Jerry Allen

Allen Jerry N. Allen, 73, died Monday, July 12, 2010 in the Wellmont Hospice House in Bristol, Tenn. He was born on Nov. 14, 1936 in Rowan County, N.C., to the late Milas Warner Allen and Margaret Holder Allen. He attended grammar school, high school and college in Salisbury, N.C. He graduated from Boyden High School in 1955 and Catawba College in 1959 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He worked for the Salisbury Post for four years while attending college. After his military service in the Army National Guard and United States Army Reserves, he worked in the office of Cannon Mills Co. in Kannapolis, N.C., where he met his wife of 49 years, Bernice Foil Allen. He was employed at Martin Maraetta Corp. in Orlando, Fla., Beaunit Fibers, Raleigh, N.C., and Elizabethton, Tenn. He had also worked at Bristol Memorial Hospital in Bristol, Tenn., Smyth County Community Hospital in Marion, and for Lowes Home Improvement Corp. in Marion. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Robert Foil, and a niece, Jatana Barton. Survivors include his wife, Bernice Allen; two sons, Derick Gerald Allen and wife, Lori, and Mathew Warner Allen and wife, Tammy; two grandchildren, Summer Nicole Allen and Sarah Elizabeth Allen; one stepson, Alvin Doby and wife, Kathi; and a step-granddaughter, Allison Doby. He enjoyed watching Major League Baseball, college football and basketball. The University of North Carolina was his favorite college team. The Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves were his favorite baseball teams. They attended Crossroads Church of Christ in Wytheville. Funeral services will be conducted at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 14, at Bradley's Funeral Home Chapel in Marion with Pastor Greg Dill officiating. The family received friends Wednesday from 6 until 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Entombment services were conducted at 11 a.m. on Thursday at the Rose Lawn Cemetery Mausoleum with full military honors rendered by the Francis Marion V.F.W. Post 4667. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Crossroads Church of Christ, P.O. Box 681, Wytheville, VA, 24382. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.bradleysfh.com. Bradley's Funeral Home of Marion is in charge of arrangements.