Harold Brent Allen

A memorial service for Harold Brent Allen, 85, of Tyler, will be at 11:00am, on Wednesday, January 28, 2015, at Lloyd James Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends following the service at Lloyd James.

A private burial will be prior to the service in Tyler Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of the Lloyd James Funeral Home.

Mr. Allen, a fourth generation Tylerite, passed away on Monday, January 26, 2015 in Tyler. He was born August 11, 1929 in Tyler to Henry Harry and Mary Kelly Allen.

Harold was a faithful member of Woods Baptist Church. Upon making his profession of faith at age 11, he was baptized by Dr. Porter Bailes at First Baptist Church in Tyler. He later was ordained a deacon by First Baptist Church on September 12, 1965. He served faithfully in that capacity there and later at First Baptist Church Arlington and also when he moved to Longview at First Baptist Church Longview.

Harold was a graduate of Tyler High School where he served as class president for his mid-term graduating class of 1947. He joined the U.S. Army in 1948 and remained in the active Army Reserves until he was honorably discharged in 1966 attaining the rank of master sergeant. Harold loved his service to his country. He is very proud to have earned his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from the University of Texas at Tyler where he was a member of the Phi Alpha Theta, a national history honor society.

Harold retired from La Gloria Oil and Gas where he started to work in the lab and retired after 38 years as their training coordinator. Harold discovered a passion for teaching as an adjunct professor for government at Tyler Junior College, 1979-1989, then Dallas Community College and Tarrant County Junior College 1990-1999, later at Kilgore College 2000-2005.

Harold was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved twin brother, Harry Allen of Longview, affectionately known as “Brother;" grandson, Ryan Crist; granddaughter, Erin Lynn Volter; and daughter-in-law, Susan Lynn Allen.

He is survived by his loving family including his wife of 64 years, Bobbie Elmore Allen, of Tyler; daughters, Cheryl Lynn Allen of Houston, and Carol Anne Allen and Bill Crist of San Marcos, California and son, Brent Lee Allen of Tyler; grandchildren, Elton Volter III (Telicia), Edwin T. Volter (Erica), Brandon Everett Allen, William Everett Crist III and twin granddaughters, Brittany Anne Crist and Casey Lynne Crist. He is also survived by four great-grandchildren.

The family would especially like to thank the caring staff of Park Place Nursing Home and Hospice of East Texas.

If desired, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Alliance of Smith County, 211 Winchester, Tyler 75701; or The Hospice of East Texas Foundation, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, 75701.