Virginia Virginia Danforth Allen

After graduating as Valedictorian from Granger High School in1937, Virginia attended San Marcus Teaching College and graduated from Southern Methodist University. She subsequently received medical technology training at Scott and White Hospital in Temple, TX. In 1941 Virginia married Walter Barton Allen, MD and shortly thereafter, Walter B. was overseas for four years during World War II as a physician in the United States Army Air Corps. With her husband abroad, Virginia worked in Dallas and enjoyed the friendship of a great group of Dallasites. Always ready for challenge, she sold her blood to pay for flying lessons, receiving her pilot’s license at Love Field. In 1948, Virginia and Walter B. settled in Nacogdoches, TX, where she raised her three children, supported her general practitioner husband, and contributed greatly to the small East Texas community. She served on the local school board during the difficult time of integration. She helped establish child protective services in Nacogdoches. Active in Christ Episcopal Church, Virginia oversaw the completion of the needlepoint kneelers project, served on the altar guild, contributed to the formation of Christ Episcopal School, and was a member of Daughters of the King. Having been a member of Tri Delta sorority, Virginia was instrumental in procuring land for a house for the Tri Delta chapter and the other sororities at Stephen F. Austen University. Furthermore, she was a member of the Medical Auxiliary, Daughters of the American Revolution and the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and president of Meals on Wheels. She received her teaching certificate from SFA and student taught at Thomas J Rusk Middle School. After the death of her husband in 1973, she became owner of Nacogdoches’s Courtesy Travel and toured the world, leading groups and travelling herself extensively.

Virginia is preceded in death by her husband and her son, Marvin Danforth Allen, DDS.

She is survived by her son, Barton Cook Allen, DDS, and wife, Ann of Dallas, TX; daughter, Molly Virginia Allen, MD and husband, Eric Keefe of Wilmington, NC; granddaughters, Cody Michele Allen Villasenor, Kelly Virginia Keefe, and Kathryn Allen Keefe; great grandson, Dominic Villasenor; cousin, Lajuana Danforth Carabasi and husband, Robert J. Carabasi, MD, and special friend, Jimmy Seal.

Thank you to the Davis Care Community and Cape Fear Hospice for their care and concern.

Goodbye to “the Little Red Hen” still taking care of us all; she was a beautiful, classy lady to the end.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Christ Episcopal Church, 502 East Star Ave, Nacogdoches, TX 75961 or to a charity of your choice.

A memorial service will be held at Christ Episcopal Church, Nacogdoches, Texas August 4, 2012 at 2:00 PM with reception to follow at Hotel Fredonia.