Thomas James Allen Jr.

He was educated in the Atlanta public school system and graduated from Boys High in 1939. He immediately enrolled at Georgia Tech. While at Georgia Tech, he joined the ROTC and subsequently enlisted in the US Army Ordinance Department. He was called to active duty in 1942 and assigned to Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Aberdeen, Maryland. He applied and received permission to transfer to the US Army Air Corps where he successfully completed the duration of his military service. While in service he met and married his first wife, the former Frances Hostetler. This union was blessed with three children.

After being honorably discharged from military service, he returned to his studies at Georgia Tech where he earned a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree in 1948. He joined Georgia Power Company, beginning a 43 year career. He began his first assignment in the Atlanta drafting department. Assignments followed in Columbus, where he served as Division Test Engineer; Athens, where he was the District Operating Superintendent; Atlanta, as Superintendent of Transmissions; then to Valdosta as Division Manager. He returned to Atlanta in 1971 where he was named Vice President of Employee Relations. In 1974 he came to Rome to assume the duties of the Rome Division Vice President where he remained until his retirement in 1987.

Throughout his career he volunteered his time to civic, charitable and educational organizations. While in Rome he served on the United Way of Rome-Floyd County, STAR House, Boys and Girls Club of Rome, YMCA, Junior Achievement, Georgia Heart Association, Industrial Development Authority and the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce. He was a past president of Coosa County Club and a past member of the Rome Rotary Club. He was a member of the Rome First United Methodist Church and the Adult Fellowship class.

He enjoyed all sports, whether he was playing the game or watching others play. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed many hours with his friends on the course. He was a member and past president of the Atlanta M.U.G. Golf Club. Sailing was also a passion of his and he was a charter member of the Rome Sail Club. He also had a great love for music his entire life. At age 15, he paid for piano lessons using money he earned on his paper route instead of buying a new tennis racket. However, he truly fell in love with an instrument when he first heard the 4-string plectrum banjo. Years later he joined the Atlanta Banjo Club and worked hard to perfect his plectrum banjo technique. He and two friends formed a banjo group they called the “River Rascals”. They entertained locally and donated their time to play for nursing homes and church groups.

Survivors include his wife, Ella Jean Pettyjohn Andrews to whom he married in 1983. They enjoyed a loving, devoted relationship for more than 30 years. His children; a daughter, Barbara Allen Gaither and husband Jim, of Watkinsville, GA; two sons, Thomas J. Allen, III and wife Karen, of Houston, TX and their children Ben and Kip; John R. Allen and wife Kim, of Marietta and their children Sarah and Sean; one sister, Ann Murray, Atlanta and one brother, Robert E. Allen, Hardeeville, SC. Also surviving, a step-daughter, April R. Anyzeski of Keokuk, IA. Two step-grandchildren, Brianna Bartlett, Keokuk, IA and Chase Parker, Cedartown, GA and a step-great-grandchild, Amaya Bartlett. Several nephews and cousins also survive. Tom was a southern gentleman and an eternal optimist even toward the end as his disease progressed. We sadly accept that he had to leave us but celebrate his life with thanksgiving. He will be greatly missed.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, December 13, 2014 at 3 PM at Daniels Funeral Home in Rome with Dr. Larry Caywood officiating. The family will receive friends at Daniels on Saturday from 1 PM until 3 PM prior to the service. The following gentlemen will serve as pallbearers: Chandler Pettyjohn, Chase Parker, Brandon Hampton, and Grandsons, Ben Allen, Kip Allen, and Sean Allen. A private interment will be held at Floyd Memory Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations to the American Diabetes Association, 233 Peachtree Street, Suite 2225, Atlanta, GA 30303 (online at www.diabetes.org/honor) or your favorite charity in his memory.

Daniel’s Funeral Home has charge of the arrangements of Thomas James Allen, Jr.