LTC John Charles Allen U.S. Army, Retired

John Charles Allen, 91, died on March 19, 2016, at his home at the Army Residence Community in San Antonio. He was attended by an ARC nurse, his daughter and two grandsons. Known to his friends as Jack, he was born in Williamstown, Pennsylvania on December 13, 1924 to James Cox and Mary Margaret Lewis Allen. He graduated from Williamstown High School in 1942 and married Anna Winifred Skelton (Winnie), on April 18, 1945 (d March 24, 2011). They had six children, Susan and John (both deceased); and Jane, David, Jeff, and Jim. Jack attended Albright College for short time then served in the US Army from 1943-46. He returned to Albright and received his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 1948. He taught high school in both Williamstown and Langhorne, PA. In 1952 he re-enlisted in the Army, serving for over 21 years and retired in 1968 as a Lieutenant Colonel. Not ready to stop, he returned to college and earned a Master’s of Science in Education from Xavier University. Between 1971, and 1986, he served as first, vice principal then as rincipal of East Junior High School in Leavenworth, Kansas. His life was rich and full. One of his favorite stories was telling how when seven years old, his grandmother told him take lunch to his grandfather. It was quite a way to the coal mine so she told him to drive the Studebaker. He did! Perhaps this was the impetus for shaping Jack’s life of commitment to family, learning, and adventure. In Leavenworth, he and Winnie acquired a “gentleman’s farm” where they raised a few cattle, and planted magnificent gardens. After retiring from the Kansas school system, they moved to the Army Residence Community in San Antonio, Texas. It was from there that they visited the world! Their trips abroad were numerous. They visited all of the typical travel destinations, sailed around Cape Horn, rode a jungle river and elephants in Thailand, saw the pyramids in Egypt, and much, much more. A world map on his wall was filled with pins marking their extensive trail. Beloved and emulated by his children, he loved to learn new things, and to think for himself. He had a wonderful sense of humor until his last day. While not overtly religious, he believed that God the creator is the source of eternal peace. He was a living example, source of stability, and fountain of love for his family. He will be missed here on earth as he continues on in his heavenly home. He is survived by the four children mentioned above, his siblings James Cox Allen, and Mary Margaret Schellhamer, eight grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. Memorial Services will be on Monday, March 28, 2016 at 10:00 am at the Army Residence Community Chapel.Interment will be with full military honors at Arlington Cemetery, Arlington, VA.