Jim R. Allen

Jim R. Allen Jim Russell Allen, 87, formerly of Oregon and Alabama, passed away Saturday, Jan. 22, 2011, in Plainview. A celebration of life service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011, at Wood-Dunning Memorial Chapel. Interment will take place at a later date in Colbert Memorial Gardens in Tuscumbia, Ala. Services are under the direction of Wood-Dunning Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. today, Jan. 25, 2011, at Wood-Dunning Funeral Home in Plainview. Jim was born Dec. 11, 1923, in Hale County, Texas, to Robert Henry Allen Sr. and Nolia Jones Allen. He grew up in the area and attended Plainview High School. Jim and Elaine Means Allen were married in Tuscumbia, Ala., on Dec. 11, 1967. Elaine passed away in December 1987. Jim served in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. He was in Gen. George Patton's Tank Division during the Battle of the Bulge. When the war ended, Jim received further education in England before returning home. Through his life, Jim farmed, drove a truck and worked as a court reporter at the town courthouse in Tuscumbia. He started his own successful court reporting business, from which he retired in 1989. In retirement, Jim traveled the country extensively in his RV, which is how he met Fran Robertson. They married and settled in Woodburn, Ore. Fran passed away in 2006. Jim was a member of the Methodist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wives, Elaine and Fran; two brothers; and three sisters. Jim is survived by his children: sons, Neil Allen of Endwell, N.Y., and Bobby Allen of Porter, Texas, and daughters, Gayle Ritchie of Early, Texas, and Sherry Mapes of Longview, Texas; sister-in-law, Mary Lou Allen of Plainview; and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the American Cancer Society, 3411 73rd St., Lubbock, TX 79423; or to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, 322 8th Ave., 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001.