James Samuel Allen

James Samuel Allen, father, grandfather, and great grandfather was a beloved family member and friend who recently passed away after 90 years of life in his hometown of Santee, CA following a short, unexpected battle with dementia. He left behind his oldest son Jeffrey, daughters Cynthia, Diana, Pamela, and youngest son James, his grandchildren Chris, Melissa, Mackenzie, David, Kevin, Linda, Curtis, Mark, Jeff, Gabriel, Mike, Kristina, Karla, Rebecca and his 49 great grandchildren.

Honor, Courage, Commitment - Semper Fidelis James’s legacy begins with his honor of serving in the U.S. Marine Corps for 16 years with an unwavering dedication to the core values of the Marine Corps; honor, courage, and commitment. They were the building blocks that aided him in making the right decisions at the right time. He was so proud of his time in the Marines that he surrounded himself with memorabilia commemorating his subsequent devotion. Even after leaving active duty as an E-7 Gunny Sergeant, he lived by the adage once a marine always a marine.

James demonstrated his courage when faced with a life decision resulting in him sacrificing his military career to save his children from the foster system to raise his children as a divorced man demonstrating rare courage in the 1960’s. However, James reinvented himself through the unfamiliar and challenging process of becoming a certified nurse’s aide for the County of San Diego serving 30 years at Edgemoor Geriatric Hospital in Santee, Ca.

After retiring from the workforce, James made a commitment to life, time and treasure. He believed in giving back to the community that had supported him throughout his life. During retirement, he volunteered his time and expertise to Kaiser Permanente in various capacities for decades. During his lifetime, James made a lasting difference in his community receiving numerous awards and recognition that made him so proud.

Finally, Dad’s favorite pastimes consisted of furniture upholstery, wood working, and “projects” that would keep him busy and happily occupied using his hands. He was always creating his next project. All family and friends were aware that a visit with Dad/Papa resulted in at least a couple of hotly contested games of Yahtzee.

In closing, to celebrate the life and legacy of James Samuel Allen, we honor a remarkable individual whose contributions have left an indelible mark on his profession, community, and the lives of those who knew him. His story is one of achievement through honor, courage, and commitment and his legacy will continue through his large Allen family. James will be laid to rest at the El Camino Memorial Park in San Diego. Rest in Peace.