RJ, more commonly known as Ranie Joe Allen Jr., was born on December 24th, 1940 in Elgin Texas to Ranie Joe Allen and Francis Mae. He was the oldest of 14 children, 10 boys and 4 girls. He accepted Christ at an early age at Sweet Home Baptist Church in Austin. RJ, as he was called, attended Anderson High School where he had many friends in school, a few of which he still had kept in contact with up until the day of his death.

When he was old enough, Ranie joined the United States Marine Corps, where he served his country fighting in the Vietnam War. Ranie was an avid business man, he tried his hand at selling cars, for a while, then he sold meat. The meat business wasn't for him so he tried selling insurance. Although he was a good people person, going door to door selling insurance policies didn't interest him either. Becoming an exterminator was the right fit for him. He could set his own schedule, work with people, be outside and spend time with his family. He enjoyed this job so much that he left the company he worked for and started his own business, A & A Pest Management. He did pretty well for himself and for his family.

He met and married his current wife, Hermine Woods-Harvey on September 27, 1986 in Las Vegas, Nevada. From this union came her two children, Aaronda and Jason, and their son Brandon along with his children from his fist marriage, Renel, Shawna and Joe. He continued to do his best to provide a happy loving home for his family. He worked his business and taught his sons all that he knew, hoping one day to hand his business down to them.

Ranie retired and moved back to Texas the summer of 2004, close to his family and childhood friends. Retirement proved to be good for Ranie; he was able to spend more time traveling and visiting with his family. He was very active in church in his latter years; he was a choir member and part of the Men's chorus, at Holy Trinity in Long Beach California He participated in weekly bible study and prayer meetings. He would attend almost all of the church activities. Once he moved to Texas he joined Grant AME in Austin, Texas and became a President of the Sons of Allen as well joining the choir, men's chorus and usher board. He continued his church activities until he became ill and was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2004. Though he did not cease his activities, he had to slow down because of the treatments he had to endure.

He continued to remain active and traveled to visit his children as often as he could up to his last illness. He had plans to see his first grandchild graduate high school; he was willing to do what ever it took to take part in a special time of his grandchild's life. But God had other plans for him and wanted him to come home. RJ has had a full life; there were bumps, and potholes along the way but he got through them with the support of his family and friends. His life was what he wanted and he lived it according to God's plan. He has left his legacy of loving God, Family, and self behind to be carried on by his wife, children, family and friends.

Those who are left to continue his legacy are; His wife Hermine Woods-Allen, her daughter Aaronda Harvey (Gregory) and her children Haniff and Malaijah, her son Jason Harvey and his daughter Janice, their son Brandon Allen (Sequina), his daughter Renel (Curtis Alford) and their children Shawnell, Nora and Celeste, his daughter Shawna (Richard Brown), and his son Ranie Joe Allen III (Stacy) and their daughter Taylor. His brothers, Oscar, Albert (Grace), Ernest (Barbara), Ozell (Shelia), Thomas (Pam), Abe, Gary (Yvette), Michael (Brenda), and his sisters Pearl (Bertram Allen), Francis (Billy Hunter), and Barbara Allen, as well as a host of nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death was his brother Robert Allen, sister Nita Shaw and his Father Ranie Joe Allen Sr. and mother Francis Mae Allen and Arree Graham "John Boy".

The family welcomes guests to pay their respect at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home on Thursday, July 29, 2010 from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Grant A.M.E. Worship Center, 1701 Kramer Ln., Austin, TX 78758, 512-339-4726; on Friday, July 30, 2010. Graveside Services with Military Honors will follow at 2:00 p.m., at Central Texas State Veteran's Cemetery in Killeen.