I knew Howard and Alice at First Methodist Church and Howard professionally. Howard was perhaps the nicest man I have known. Soft spoken, attentive,  good sense of humor and a quiet man I was proud to call my friend. I am so glad that he lived a good long life and had such a great family. Blessings on Mary Jane and all of the family.

It was my privilege and honor to know and work with Howard throughout the years  in nursing home regulation. I started in Houston in 1967 and then to Austin in 1969. Howard was first an architect  evaluating the buildings,  then the Division Director and  ultimately Chief of the Bureau of Long Term Care.   Howard was respected by staff and providers, and he treated all fairly and honestly. He was greatly missed after his retirement as now. He was a good mentor and role model to the staff.

My name is Paula.. I am a friend of his daughter Wanza.   I wrote a few letters to Howard.   For awhile we were pen pals.   Wanza spoke of her father often. Taking great care of him. The family sorrow came during the virus..    I had the privledge of meeting him at the Kalanazoo Nature Center.  
I know he loved birds and he gave me a t-shirt with wood peckers.  Just recently a large Pileated Woodpecker has been coming to my feeder. I think of him.  I also read the stories and incidences of his life.   Some where very funny.  I saw his humor, a way with words and humanity.
I am priveledged to have met him.  
My heart goes out to the family.

I taught Howard’s Sunday School class at First United Methodist Church -Austin for over 35 years. The word that best describes Howard is faithfulness. He rarely missed a class and enjoyed leading the hymns and, to my relief, was always  attentive to the lesson. Despite all of his many accomplishments, he was self effacing. He must be a great example for his family. I know he was for me.

Glenn E, Johnson

I first met Howard in December 1974 when I interviewed with him and Jerry Bryant for a Medical Record Specialist job with BLTC, TDH.  I was new to Austin & Texas and newly married.  I got the job and was lucky to work with and for Howard until he retired.  I was serving as his Executive Assistant when he retired.  He was an excellent supervisor and manager.   In 1984 when I got a call at work that my mother-in-law had been killed in a auto wreck. My husband was at a job site near Lake Travis and had worked all night long.  I told Howard what had happened and that I needed to go tell him and get him.  I was very upset.  Howard immediately insisted that he drive me to the site which I always appreciated.  That was just one example of how much Howard cared for the BLTC staff.  Also his  fairness in  working with the long term care providers and enforcing the regulations that protected the facility residents was notable.  My heartfelt prayers go out to all his family.  I know you have so many wonderful memories of your time together

We lost a true friend this week - Pearl’s very first friend. We met Howard at church. He always sat 8-10 rows behind us. That is, until Pearl was born. Then it was 6, 4, 2, etc. For many years we sat with him, drove him, and went to lunch after church. He was such a sweet person!  And loved all children!  He was 90 when Pearl was born. So much time and life separated them, but they were kindred spirits. She would spin and he would spin. She would sing and he would sing. She would do a flip and for a spilt second he would look like he was going to try it!  The walls of his home are full of artwork made by all the children that knew him. He would send them artwork too. We kept every piece. I remember one particular moment from the days when Steven and I were both partners of an architecture firm and had endless travel and massive logistics. Steven had dropped pearl off at daycare and headed to Houston for an interview (something you never miss as a landscape architect). I was wrapping URP a large meeting for the Outdoor Denver Master plan and expected to board a plane and be home in time to pick Pearl up. I got a call at 9am saying she had spiked a temperature and I needed to pick her up right away. I started calling all my sitters, to no avail. I was desperate!  I gave Howard and Don, his son, a call and they were jumping to the ready!  Howard had been an architect his whole life and understood without words the pickle we were in. Turns out that one of our sitters was able to jump in, but it was my dear 95 year old friend and his 75 year old son that reminded me that it takes a village.  Howard was a dear friend to me, Steven and Pearl. It goes to show you that you can make a difference in someone’s life at any age. He will never be forgotten by the three of us! Rest In Peace, Howard. You did well.  We are happy thinking of you with your dearest Alice!

To the Stansberrys and all of the neighbors, I want you to know how much Howard cared for all of you.  Even those of us living in Michigan would get to hear about the goings on in the neighborhood and he loved to share photos and drawings with us.  Having you all around is integral to what kept him going for so long. My kids were the recipients of cartoons featuring trains and dinosaurs, butterflies and flower gardens.  When I think of all the children who have been impacted by his generosity and love, it is overwhelming.  Thank you to all the neighbors for taking care of Peepaw and Uncle Don.  You are appreciated!
~Marguerite Grantier Grupke (Howard's granddaughter in Michigan )

Our heartfelt condolences, Barbara and family; our several brief visits with y’all and Howard were delightful - he was a sweet, fun presence! 
Sid and Marvann

Howard and Don used to take their evening neighborhood walks past our home.  Our dining room window overlooked the street and the moment the kids saw them coming they would bound out of their chairs, fly out the door and rush to the fence to say hello.  We got to see them almost nightly for many months for a quick chat.  I learned very quickly that Howard loved the children of the neighborhood.  He knew the name of every kid up and down the block and what their special interests were - whether it was horses or outer space or superheroes.  Howard created special hand-drawn cartoons for the children he met.  The cartoons were about them and incorporated their unique interests.  The kids went bonkers with excitement when they got a special envelope hand addressed to them with his artwork.  One day, I found my daughter and the neighbor's daughter sitting at the fence between our houses, proudly showing off the cartoons Howard had given each of them.

When the evening walks became too strenuous, Howard received visitors at his home.  We'd run over to say hello every now and then and catch up. His house was filled with photos and drawings from the kids in the neighborhood who loved him.  He was always kind, quick with a laugh and delighted in the minutiae of the kids' lives that they excitedly shared with him.  He spoke lovingly of his wife Alice whom he missed dearly.

I was always struck after spending time with Howard - he understood deeply the purpose of it all.  He found so much joy in what matters - caring about other people. We're so saddened to hear of his passing and wish Don and the rest of his family much comfort.  You must be so proud of him - what a gentle wonderful man and what a well-lived life.  
Our deepest condolences.
Maria, Sadie, Pippi & Clementine Stansberry

OBITUARY

Howard Charles Allen

April 21, 1921 – October 19, 2020

Weed Corley Fish Funeral Homes and Cremation Services

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