Husband of Elnora Jeane Riggs. Son of Earl L. Allen and Janie Halls
OBITUARY
Willard Edward Allen, age 90, of Lucas, passed away December 13, 2012 at Southern Hills Care Facility in Osceola.
Willard was born on November 20, 1922 to Janie and Earl Allen. He grew up on a farm on the northwest edge of Lucas. He attended school in Lucas, graduating from Lucas High School in May 1940. After graduation, Willard farmed with his dad and operated heavy equipment as a Cat driver.
Willard enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and began his service in March 1943. He was stationed in the South Pacific during WW II and honorably discharged in November 1945. He also attended college at Ordnance School in Norman, Oklahoma.
Williard was married to Elnora Jeane Riggs on July 21, 1946. That same year, he began a long and proud career with the U.S. Postal Service. Willard and Elnora lived in Lucas and had three children: Jim, Dean and Mary Lynne.
In his spare time, Willard enjoyed helping his cousin, Edwin Allen, on the farm in rural Lucas. He also enjoyed countless camping and fishing trips with is family, traveling all over the United States.
Willard was perhaps best known as "Willie," one of the top fast pitch softball pitchers in southern Iowa. He played for leagues in Woodburn, Osceola, Chariton and Indianola, sometimes pitching for three leagues at the same time. He ended his softball career at the age of 49. During this time, he also coached baseball and inducted into the Lucas County Little Leagues Hall of Fame.
After 37 years with the U.S. Postal Service, Willard retired as a rural mail carrier in the fall of 1984. During the span of his career, he delivered more than 10 million letters. Upon retirement, Willard enjoyed traveling, camping, fishing, woodworking and tending to his garden and yard.
He loved spending time with his seven grandchildren, and rarely missed their many activities and sporting events. He also continued his service to the community as a volunteer firefighter for the Lucas Fire Department.
Willard celebrated 61 years of marriage to his wife, Elnore, before she passed away in 2007. He was also preceded in death by two infant sisters; siblings, Katherine Dixon, Patricia Peterson, Marney Allen and Gerale (Mope) Allen; nephew Calvin Dixon and niece Francie Pardock.
He is survived by his children, Jim (Velta) Allen of Lucas, Dean (Diane) Allen of Van Wert and Mary Lynne (Chris) Conway of Melrose; granchildren, Michelle (Ryan) Haacke of Albert Lea, MN, Shari (Brian) Boyce of Chariton, Lori (Jim) Keller of Melrose, Jeff (Janine) Bauer of West Des Moines, Karen (Donnie) Schultz of Colo, Chris Bauer of Runnels and Carrie (David) Oxenreider of Lucas; and 19 great-grandchildren
Memorials may be sent ot PO Box 6, Lucas, Iowa 50151. Memorials have been set up for the Lucas County Little League and Lucas Community Betterment.
OBITUARY
Willard Edward Allen, age 90, of Lucas, passed away December 13, 2012 at Southern Hills Care Facility in Osceola.
Willard was born on November 20, 1922 to Janie and Earl Allen. He grew up on a farm on the northwest edge of Lucas. He attended school in Lucas, graduating from Lucas High School in May 1940. After graduation, Willard farmed with his dad and operated heavy equipment as a Cat driver.
Willard enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and began his service in March 1943. He was stationed in the South Pacific during WW II and honorably discharged in November 1945. He also attended college at Ordnance School in Norman, Oklahoma.
Williard was married to Elnora Jeane Riggs on July 21, 1946. That same year, he began a long and proud career with the U.S. Postal Service. Willard and Elnora lived in Lucas and had three children: Jim, Dean and Mary Lynne.
In his spare time, Willard enjoyed helping his cousin, Edwin Allen, on the farm in rural Lucas. He also enjoyed countless camping and fishing trips with is family, traveling all over the United States.
Willard was perhaps best known as "Willie," one of the top fast pitch softball pitchers in southern Iowa. He played for leagues in Woodburn, Osceola, Chariton and Indianola, sometimes pitching for three leagues at the same time. He ended his softball career at the age of 49. During this time, he also coached baseball and inducted into the Lucas County Little Leagues Hall of Fame.
After 37 years with the U.S. Postal Service, Willard retired as a rural mail carrier in the fall of 1984. During the span of his career, he delivered more than 10 million letters. Upon retirement, Willard enjoyed traveling, camping, fishing, woodworking and tending to his garden and yard.
He loved spending time with his seven grandchildren, and rarely missed their many activities and sporting events. He also continued his service to the community as a volunteer firefighter for the Lucas Fire Department.
Willard celebrated 61 years of marriage to his wife, Elnore, before she passed away in 2007. He was also preceded in death by two infant sisters; siblings, Katherine Dixon, Patricia Peterson, Marney Allen and Gerale (Mope) Allen; nephew Calvin Dixon and niece Francie Pardock.
He is survived by his children, Jim (Velta) Allen of Lucas, Dean (Diane) Allen of Van Wert and Mary Lynne (Chris) Conway of Melrose; granchildren, Michelle (Ryan) Haacke of Albert Lea, MN, Shari (Brian) Boyce of Chariton, Lori (Jim) Keller of Melrose, Jeff (Janine) Bauer of West Des Moines, Karen (Donnie) Schultz of Colo, Chris Bauer of Runnels and Carrie (David) Oxenreider of Lucas; and 19 great-grandchildren
Memorials may be sent ot PO Box 6, Lucas, Iowa 50151. Memorials have been set up for the Lucas County Little League and Lucas Community Betterment.
Husband of Elnora Jeane Riggs. Son of Earl L. Allen and Janie Halls
OBITUARY
Willard Edward Allen, age 90, of Lucas, passed away December 13, 2012 at Southern Hills Care Facility in Osceola.
Willard was born on November 20, 1922 to Janie and Earl Allen. He grew up on a farm on the northwest edge of Lucas. He attended school in Lucas, graduating from Lucas High School in May 1940. After graduation, Willard farmed with his dad and operated heavy equipment as a Cat driver.
Willard enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and began his service in March 1943. He was stationed in the South Pacific during WW II and honorably discharged in November 1945. He also attended college at Ordnance School in Norman, Oklahoma.
Williard was married to Elnora Jeane Riggs on July 21, 1946. That same year, he began a long and proud career with the U.S. Postal Service. Willard and Elnora lived in Lucas and had three children: Jim, Dean and Mary Lynne.
In his spare time, Willard enjoyed helping his cousin, Edwin Allen, on the farm in rural Lucas. He also enjoyed countless camping and fishing trips with is family, traveling all over the United States.
Willard was perhaps best known as "Willie," one of the top fast pitch softball pitchers in southern Iowa. He played for leagues in Woodburn, Osceola, Chariton and Indianola, sometimes pitching for three leagues at the same time. He ended his softball career at the age of 49. During this time, he also coached baseball and inducted into the Lucas County Little Leagues Hall of Fame.
After 37 years with the U.S. Postal Service, Willard retired as a rural mail carrier in the fall of 1984. During the span of his career, he delivered more than 10 million letters. Upon retirement, Willard enjoyed traveling, camping, fishing, woodworking and tending to his garden and yard.
He loved spending time with his seven grandchildren, and rarely missed their many activities and sporting events. He also continued his service to the community as a volunteer firefighter for the Lucas Fire Department.
Willard celebrated 61 years of marriage to his wife, Elnore, before she passed away in 2007. He was also preceded in death by two infant sisters; siblings, Katherine Dixon, Patricia Peterson, Marney Allen and Gerale (Mope) Allen; nephew Calvin Dixon and niece Francie Pardock.
He is survived by his children, Jim (Velta) Allen of Lucas, Dean (Diane) Allen of Van Wert and Mary Lynne (Chris) Conway of Melrose; granchildren, Michelle (Ryan) Haacke of Albert Lea, MN, Shari (Brian) Boyce of Chariton, Lori (Jim) Keller of Melrose, Jeff (Janine) Bauer of West Des Moines, Karen (Donnie) Schultz of Colo, Chris Bauer of Runnels and Carrie (David) Oxenreider of Lucas; and 19 great-grandchildren
Memorials may be sent ot PO Box 6, Lucas, Iowa 50151. Memorials have been set up for the Lucas County Little League and Lucas Community Betterment.
OBITUARY
Willard Edward Allen, age 90, of Lucas, passed away December 13, 2012 at Southern Hills Care Facility in Osceola.
Willard was born on November 20, 1922 to Janie and Earl Allen. He grew up on a farm on the northwest edge of Lucas. He attended school in Lucas, graduating from Lucas High School in May 1940. After graduation, Willard farmed with his dad and operated heavy equipment as a Cat driver.
Willard enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and began his service in March 1943. He was stationed in the South Pacific during WW II and honorably discharged in November 1945. He also attended college at Ordnance School in Norman, Oklahoma.
Williard was married to Elnora Jeane Riggs on July 21, 1946. That same year, he began a long and proud career with the U.S. Postal Service. Willard and Elnora lived in Lucas and had three children: Jim, Dean and Mary Lynne.
In his spare time, Willard enjoyed helping his cousin, Edwin Allen, on the farm in rural Lucas. He also enjoyed countless camping and fishing trips with is family, traveling all over the United States.
Willard was perhaps best known as "Willie," one of the top fast pitch softball pitchers in southern Iowa. He played for leagues in Woodburn, Osceola, Chariton and Indianola, sometimes pitching for three leagues at the same time. He ended his softball career at the age of 49. During this time, he also coached baseball and inducted into the Lucas County Little Leagues Hall of Fame.
After 37 years with the U.S. Postal Service, Willard retired as a rural mail carrier in the fall of 1984. During the span of his career, he delivered more than 10 million letters. Upon retirement, Willard enjoyed traveling, camping, fishing, woodworking and tending to his garden and yard.
He loved spending time with his seven grandchildren, and rarely missed their many activities and sporting events. He also continued his service to the community as a volunteer firefighter for the Lucas Fire Department.
Willard celebrated 61 years of marriage to his wife, Elnore, before she passed away in 2007. He was also preceded in death by two infant sisters; siblings, Katherine Dixon, Patricia Peterson, Marney Allen and Gerale (Mope) Allen; nephew Calvin Dixon and niece Francie Pardock.
He is survived by his children, Jim (Velta) Allen of Lucas, Dean (Diane) Allen of Van Wert and Mary Lynne (Chris) Conway of Melrose; granchildren, Michelle (Ryan) Haacke of Albert Lea, MN, Shari (Brian) Boyce of Chariton, Lori (Jim) Keller of Melrose, Jeff (Janine) Bauer of West Des Moines, Karen (Donnie) Schultz of Colo, Chris Bauer of Runnels and Carrie (David) Oxenreider of Lucas; and 19 great-grandchildren
Memorials may be sent ot PO Box 6, Lucas, Iowa 50151. Memorials have been set up for the Lucas County Little League and Lucas Community Betterment.
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