Dorothy Baker Allen

Dorothy Baker Allen, age 94, affectionately known as Dottie, died peacefully in her sleep at the Christ Home Nursing Facility in Warminster, PA, near her daughter and caregiver, Susan. Born in Seattle, WA, she was the daughter of the late Alfred and Dorothy (Honey) Baker. She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Andrew W. Allen, her brother, Landon Baker, and her sister-in-law, Joey. Surviving are: children Andrew Allen and wife Lucy of Berwyn, PA; Susan Benzie of Doylestown, PA; Robert Allen and wife Rebecca of Salisbury, MD; and Charles Allen and wife Karen of State College, PA; brothers John Baker and wife Isabel of Atlanta, GA, and Thomas Baker and wife Barbara of Wisconsin Dells, WI; and fourteen grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren.

Dottie moved to the Philadelphia suburbs when she was five years old. She attended Lower Merion High School where she met the love of her life, Andy. Dottie attended Elmira College before transferring to the University of Michigan where Andy was enrolled in the US Marines officer program. They courted all through the war years and were married in 1947. Andy’s career with Campbell Soup and his service in the Marines during the Korean War resulted in moving to many different homes including: the suburbs of Camden, NJ; Wrightsville Beach, NC; Fredricksburg, VA; Omaha, NE; Napoleon, OH; Oakville, ON, Canada; and Wayne, PA. Throughout all of these moves, she created a comforting and loving home for her husband and four children.

In 1970, they moved to Rehoboth Beach, DE, after Andy took a position at Draper King Cole in Milton, DE. Dottie finally found her roots and stayed in her Rehoboth Beach home for 45 years. Besides being a loving wife and wonderful mother, she worked in an employment agency, a preschool, and a boutique clothing store (Sign of the Whale). She loved to play golf, bowl, bridge, and watch all kinds of sports, especially her beloved Phillies and Eagles. She also sewed the curtains and drapes for all the houses she lived in, and knitted baby blankets for each of her many grandchildren. Above all, she loved her family, who loved her in return and will miss her greatly.

The celebration of life ceremony will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, a donation in Dottie’s memory may be made to: Community Resource Center, 37510 Oyster House Rd., Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971, or St. Vincent De Paul, c/o St. Edmond Catholic Church, P.O. Box 646, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. If you would like to leave condolences or be contacted when the celebration of life is scheduled, please visit the Alleva Funeral Home, Inc. website, www.dignitymemorial.com.