Thomas Francis Allen

Tom was born Dec. 12, 1933 to William and Mary Allen, the oldest of nine children, and raised on a dairy farm in Canisteo, N.Y.

He attended Cornell University for a year before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps, where he served as a drill instructor at Parris Island during the Korean conflict.

Tom was selected to attend Northwestern University after a nationwide exam given by the Marine Corps.

Post college, Tom taught mathematics and coached football and baseball at Evanston High School, in Evanston, Ill., for nine years. He completed his masters of education at University of Virginia in 1964.

He went on to work in marketing for IBM (Chicago) for 10 years. It was during these years that his five children were born and raised in Evanston and Hinsdale, Ill.

In 1985, he married the love of his life, Judy, and became the father of four additional children. He finished his career teaching math and coaching football and water polo for 21 years at Lyons Township High School in LaGrange, Ill.

He was elected to the Illinois High School Water Polo Hall of Fame.

He and Judy retired in 1999 and moved to Hot Springs Village, Ark., where he enjoyed tutoring and pursued many other interests.

He moved to Fort Worth, Texas, in 2013 to be closer to family.

Tom had a deep and abiding faith throughout his whole life. He loved his family and was a true and loyal friend to so many. He will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Judy; his children Tonia (Topper) Wilson, Darren (Ginger) Allen, Scott Allen, Todd (Natalie) Allen, Brian (Aida) Allen, Kristen Adams, David (Carrie) Van Daff, Lindsay (Jason) Kennedy, and Alison (Andrew) Thompson; grandchildren Gavin and Rory Wilson, Lily Allen, Holly and Ashford Allen, Maria and Augie Botello, Nikolaas Allen, Kyle, Samantha, and Kaitlyn Adams, Tommy, Matthew, and Paige Van Daff, Reese, Graham, and Colin Kennedy, and Evan, Savannah and Spencer Thompson; great-grandchildren Stephanie and Savannah Botello; two brothers, five sisters, and many other loved ones.

A memorial service will be 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14 at Arborlawn United Methodist Church, 5001 Briarhaven Road, Fort Worth, TX 76109. Memorials in honor of Tom can be made to Marklund.org, or Arborlawn United Methodist Church.