James Richard Allen

James Richard Allen of Green Valley, AZ, was promoted to glory on July 18, 2020. He was preceded in death by his parents Herbert and Martine Allen, brother Bill (Elaine), sister Marilyn DeCaire (Ellsworth), his wife Eldona Allen (2011) and their newborn son Britt Lewis (1954). He is survived by his three children, Nancy Schultheiss (Jerry, deceased) of Green Valley, AZ, Anita Albala (Neil) of Poulsbo, WA and Phillip Allen (Michele) of Clarkston, MI. He has four grandchildren: Mark Schultheiss (Katie) and their sons Jake and Rylan of Chesaning, MI; Rachel Allen of Edmond, OK; Mitchel Allen (Kaitlin) of Edmond, OK and Stephen Allen (Carly) of Edmond, OK. and several nieces and nephews.

Jim was born March 31st, 1924 in Farmersburg, Indiana. His family later moved to Flint, Michigan, where he grew up, went to college, married, raised a family, retired from AC Spark Plug in 1985 and moved to Arizona shortly thereafter.

Jim graduated from General Motors Institute in Flint, Michigan with a degree in Industrial Engineering. He enrolled in the military when WWII began. He thought he was going to be a weatherman for the Air Force, but instead, because of his engineering background, they moved him into the Army Air Corp and later into the Air Force repairing airplanes. He wrote, “In 1944 we shipped out of Boston going across the Atlantic thirteen days in the winter. Was sick every day -ugh! We were on our way to England. We were at an Air base near Oxford and Redding England for four months. We serviced 1138, A20, A26, Bombers. Our Bombers were trained to bomb out railroads, factories and Air fields. Our job was to keep them in the air. Our light bombers pulled and carried two Gliders with fourteen men in each with a glider pilot. Thirty of our planes pulled out early morning of June 6th for Normandy. With the idea that our Gliders would land behind the German lines and take out all of the German artillery on Utah and Omaha Beach. Out of four hundred only nine came back in one piece.” He was also was stationed in France for a short time.

He married Eldona Spikberg in 1946, and was married for 68 years. They had 2 girls and 2 boys. Their first son, Britt, died two days after being born. The whole family was very active in the church activities of The Salvation Army Citadel, Flint Michigan. Jim actually played a major role in helping build a beautiful Salvation Army Sanctuary and offices. He took the family camping and sightseeing all over the U.S. and Canada. He was particularly fond of taking them on factory tours of different manufacturing plants, such as Hershey Chocolates and the Kellogg Cereal Factory. He also enjoyed woodworking and built many things around the house. Golfing was a major passion and helped to keep him fit. He even got a “Hole in One” once!

He retired from AC Spark Plug after 38 years as a Senior Engineer at General Motors. He led the process and manufacturing development of the companies FIRST pleated oil filter, one of the most profitable products in the 40 year history of GM. He also developed the world’s FIRST high-speed continuous motion induction welding machine. He was successful in designing, developing and establishing many state-of-the-art production machinery and processes for GM, many of them the first of their generation.

Shortly after retiring, Jim and Eldona moved to Arizona, first to Rio Rico and later to Green Valley. He continued his engineering career in Mexico, working for Chamberlain Industries for several more years. He thoroughly enjoyed golfing with his great friends, home improvements, Wildcat Basketball and having his kids and grandchildren visit.

For the past three years, Jim has been living at The Villas of Green Valley. Jim’s family would like to acknowledge and thank the many wonderful caregivers at the Villas. Even though dad didn’t really want to be there, he liked many of the caregivers and when you’d talk to him, he’d usually say he was ‘having a pretty good day’. The caregivers say that they always appreciated dads funny and witty responses to whatever was going on at the moment. “He had a real great sense of humor.” We would also like to thank the Remita nurses and doctors for their exceptional and pro-active hospice care.

Jim was always extremely supportive of his children's endeavors and always offered to help them with whatever they were involved in. He was deeply loved by his family. They all knew, and felt, how much he loved them and was devoted to their happiness.

Promoted to Glory is a term used by The Salvation Army to describe the death of a Salvationist. Jim and his family were and are, committed supporters of the Salvation Army as a Christian community of worship as well as a worldwide charitable organization. The song, “Promoted to Glory” says,

“Summoned home, the call has sounded,

Bidding a soldier his warfare cease;

And the song of angels resounding,

Welcomes a warrior to eternal peace.”