Helen Amelia Allen

Helen Amelia Allen (née Rowe) was born April 1, 1919 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada to Joseph Rowe and Mary Fougire Rowe. The family immigrated to New York City when Helen was 6 months old. She lived there with her Father and Mother until she was 10. The depression moved them across the country over several years until they settled in San Bernardino, California where Helen graduated from San Bernardino High School in 1937.

She moved to San Diego in 1939 and met her future husband, Ulan Allen. Ulan also immigrated from Canada and settled in El Centro, California before moving to San Diego to become a Plumber’s Apprentice and then became a Master Plumber.

Helen and Ulan were married December 23, 1939 in Yuma, Arizona and settled in North Park, San Diego. With the imminent arrival of their first child in 1941 they moved to Pacific Beach, bought a house and joined Pacific Beach Presbyterian Church.

Helen, as an only child, was so happy to have four children: Elizabeth, Spencer, Victoria and Phillip.

Helen was very active in several groups in the community and at Pacific Beach Presbyterian. She was part of Pacific Beach Women’s Club, Republican Women, Prayer Circle at PB Presbyterian, PB Presbyterian Women, where she served a term as President, and Friendship Club. She served on the nominating committee that brought Alan Deuel to PB Presbyterian.

Helen spent over 30 years as a volunteer “Pink Lady” at Donald N. Sharp Memorial Hospital. Then moved to Mission Bay Hospital when she didn’t want to drive so far.

After 52 years of marriage Ulan passed away in 1991 Helen decided to see a little more of the world. She took a cruise to Alaska with her daughter Elizabeth and Granddaughter Lynn Marie in 1992. She wanted to see where her daughter Victoria was living in Alaska at the time. Then there were trips to Portland Oregon; through the Panama Canal and bus and train trips with “Gadabouts.”

Helen continued attending and serving Pacific Beach Presbyterian the rest of her life.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband Ulan and her son, Spencer. She is survived by her children: Elizabeth, Victoria and Phillip; 10 grandchildren, 12 Great Grandchildren and 2 Great Great Grandchildren.

Helen has always loved God, her family, her friends and the United States of America. She proudly flew the American flag every day. She loved to go out and visit all San Diego had to offer and see her family as much as possible.