John Phillip Allen

John Phillip Allen went to be with his Heavenly Father on February 11th, 2016 at the age of 74 He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and teacher. He was born in rural Louisiana into a loving and caring family who taught him the values of family and faith. He was the first in his family to attend college, and graduated from Northwestern University in 1963. He earned his Master's Degree from Louisiana Tech in 1967.

Above all, Phillip was a teacher, and his greatest gift was the significant influence he left on the lives of so many of his former students. He began his teaching and coaching career in 1963 at Dubberly High School in Louisiana, where he won several state basketball championships. He remained close to his first students throughout his life. He taught and coached at North Caddo High School before coming to the Dallas Independent School District in 1973 as a middle school math teacher. There, he spent 34 years as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and administrator. During his last years in DISD, he directed the alternative school program for students who had been excluded from schools for disciplinary issues. He had a gift and a passion for working with hard to reach students, and developed many successful programs and supports to assist high-risk students.

He retired in 2007, and enjoyed continuing his teaching career as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Texas at Dallas, teaching aspiring teachers, as he would say, the “calling” to be a teacher. He is survived by his loving wife Rosemarie, and a family who gave him enormous joy, his daughter Alicia Zornig, son John Allen, and daughter Andrea Price, all who followed in their fathers footsteps as educators. He is survived by his beautiful grandsons Will and Sam, and sons- in- law Brian Zornig and Josh Price. He was preceded in death by his parents John and Ruby Allen and his brother Jerry Allen. He also leaves behind his brother and sisters Ray Allen, Dottie Sparks, Patsy Teer, Millie Savell, and many loving nieces, nephews and friends.

A funeral service will be held at 2pm Wednesday February 17th at Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Leukemia Research Foundation, or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.