Robert “Bob” Dean Allen was the son of Emmett “Eldon” and Earlina “Sal” Allen. He was born in Toledo, Washington, on July 4, 1940, and grew up on a farm in Vader, Washington.
He had made Eagle Scout before graduating from Winlock High School 1958. He joined the U.S. Navy, and he was on the ship Valley Forge and one of his missions was part of the recovery of the 1960 Mercury lunar recovery from Cape Canaveral. He met his first wife, Dorothy, in the U.S. Navy. When they left the service, they both relocated back to the Pacific Northwest.
Once out of the U.S. Navy, he started working for Weyerhaeuser, where he started as an oiler and eventually worked his way up to electrician. In the 1980s, he was laid off and had worked briefly for the steam plant in Centralia, and then he finally retired from Northwest Hardwoods.
He enjoyed flying with the Toledo Flying Club, being a Longview/Kelso Eagles lifetime member for 56 years, camping, fishing and clamming. He was also an amateur radio operator (ham), and during the eruption of Mount. St. Helens, he helped with radio communications, and back before cellphones, he used his radio to get traffic information. He was a person that could tell you what was going on around the block. Many neighbors have said they miss the neighbor watchdog. He was always smiling and didn’t know a stranger.
He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law, Robin Stover (Nancy); and son, Eldon (Carmen Garcia Allen). Surviving is spouse, Barbara, of 46 years; son, Harold and Brooksy; daughter, Carolyn and Tim Wyatt; step-daughter, Donna Young; stepson, Mitch Young; and step-daughter, Tracy and Ken Spruit; along with many grandchildren and one great-grandson.
At his request, there will be no service and any contributions can be made to any local charities.
