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 Allen Becker
Austin, TX
Allen W. Becker, 87, passed away at his home in Austin, TX on Saturday, October 29 after a long battle with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. He was preceded in death by his parents, Col. Aaron and Mary Becker, a daughter, Susan, and his beloved wife, Elizabeth. He is survived by his brother, Robert Becker and his wife, Patricia, of Marathon, FL; children, Mary Mullins and her husband, Tom, of Richmond, VA; Joan Becker of Boston, MA; Stephen Becker and wife, Emilie, of Austin, TX and four grandchildren, Rachel and Madeleine Mullins and Isaac and Antonia Becker. Born into a military family in 1924, Allen lived in various parts of the country as a child, including Hawaii. He graduated from Dreher High School in Columbia, SC in 1942. That same year he enlisted in the army and was discharged in 1946 as a 1st Lt. in the Infantry. Allen had a lifelong love of the English language and earned a BA in English from the University of South Carolina, an MA from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and a PhD from Johns Hopkins. He taught English at the University of Tennessee, Johns Hopkins and the University of Texas, Austin. In 1957, following the call of Bishop John Hines, he became the headmaster of St. Stephen's Episcopal School in Austin, TX where he served in that capacity until 1973. Under Allen's leadership, St. Stephen's became the first boarding school in the South to become integrated. In 1973, Allen accepted the post of the headmaster of St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Jackson, MS, a position he held for 6 years. In 1979 he became the headmaster of St. Catherine's School in Richmond, VA. After retiring from St. Catherine's in 1989, he and Elizabeth moved back to Austin, TX in 1995. In retirement, he became the head cook in the Becker household regularly creating gourmet meals for family and friends. He and Elizabeth explored the world traveling in Mexico, South and Central America, Europe, Africa and China. He was a devoted caregiver to Elizabeth during the long goodbye of Alzheimer's disease that ended in 2007. Even when his failing lungs made exertion difficult, he continued to tend his vegetable and flower garden, which was a source of great pleasure and pride. Allen also continued to pursue his passion for birdwatching, making regular forays to local sites such as Hornsby Bend and Pederenales Falls State Park. He recently returned to Costa Rica where he saw 20 different species he had never seen before. Allen believed deeply in service to the community. In 1995 he became involved in the establishment of St. James' Episcopal School in East Austin, serving on the board (1996-2009) in various capacities including president. He was chair of the capital fund drive, raising about $3,000,000 to buy the land and build the present school, which provides affordable, high quality kindergarten and elementary education to the local community. In recent years he taught English as a second language at El Buen Samaritano in South Austin and was beloved by his students there. He also served as an informal consultant to the Pro-Moskitia Foundation of Nicaragua, based in Austin. Allen leaves behind a multitude of old and new friends, colleagues and students each of whom helped to make his life a rich adventure. There will be a memorial service on Saturday, November 19 at 2 p.m. at the chapel at St. Stephen's Episcopal School, 6500 St. Stephen's Drive, Austin, Texas 78746. A reception will follow on the campus. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations may be made to the Allen and Elizabeth Becker Scholarship Endowment, St. James' Episcopal School, 1941 Webberville Road, Austin TX 78721. email: stjamesepiscopalschool.org.
Published in Clarion Ledger from November 3 to November 4, 2011
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