Joseph Martin Allen

Joseph was born to Julia and Edward Allen on September 13, 1971 in Falls Church, VA. He lived in both Springfield, VA and San Antonio, TX as a child, graduating from San Antonio’s Churchill High School in 1989. Joseph also attended San Antonio College during which time he became an intern at the Library of Congress’ Congressional Research Service (CRS). He converted to full time employment at CRS and began his 32-year career there as a reference librarian. He enlisted in the National Guard in 2006 and was attached to the storied 29th Division, 3rd Battalion, 116th Brigade Combat Team. He served as an Intelligence Analyst.

Upon his return from Advanced Combat Training, he discovered that his Guard Unit was returning from Iraq. Eager to give Uncle Sam his money’s worth, Joseph attached himself to a North Carolina National Guard Unit and deployed to Iraq in 2008 serving in what had been known as the “Triangle of Death”, Mamudiyah, stationed at a small base that was built on what used to be a chicken processing plant. Upon his return from Iraq, Joseph attached himself to a Louisiana National Guard Unit and deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 where he was stationed at Bagram Air Base. He continued to serve until 2017 when he was honorably discharged from the National Guard. Joseph loved visiting with neighbors at Capitol Hill restaurants and watching San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Cowboy games with them. Joseph met his future wife on Capitol Hill, and after living there for nearly twenty years, he decamped to Alexandria where he lived until the spring of 2023 when he returned to San Antonio to be with family and enjoy their company and excellent cooking.

A history buff, Joseph enjoyed going on Smithsonian tours with his wife Emily, his favorite of which was the John Wilkes Booth’s Escape Route, a day trip with the stellar guide, Ed Bearss. Joseph was fascinated with current events and prided himself on providing astute guidance to Congressional staffers seeking information from CRS. He read 5 newspapers a day and especially loved the PBS News Hour with Judy Woodruff and Gwen Ifill but stayed loyal to the program to the end of his life. He also enjoyed trips to New York State with his wife and got a kick out of visiting Rochester, Albany, Fort Ticonderoga, and the Corning Museum of Glass there.

At 11 am on January 5th a visitation will be held at Sunset Memorial Park and Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Joseph’s name to the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education fund, or the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria Attention Injured Pets Fund.

Joseph is predeceased by his cousin Danny Carranza. He is survived by his parents, Julia and Edward, his brother Ethan, Aunts Celia and Mary Lou, Uncle Rick, multiple cousins, and his best friend and former wife, Emily.