Margaret Leah Allen

1924 - 2011

Margaret Leah Allen 1924 - 2011 Margaret Leah Allen entered into eternal rest under the care of Hoffman Hospice at Glenwood Gardens Skilled Nursing Facility on March 26, 2011 with family members at her side. In accordance with Margaret's wishes, there will be no funeral services. She is to be cremated and her ashes scattered with those of her beloved husband, Clark Allen who preceded her in death on August 14, 1979. Margaret was born in Mound City, Kansas on February 25, 1924 to Ruth and Denzil "Tiny" Damitz and was soon joined by her younger sister Maetine Damitz. The family moved from Kansas in 1928 and settled in northern California where they remained until Margaret was eight. In 1936 they moved to Bakersfield where she attended local schools and graduated with the first graduating class from East Bakersfield High School in 1941. Margaret was a former employee of the Santa Fe Railroad under the supervision of L.V. Lippincott. After leaving the Santa Fe Railroad she was employed by Kern County. She served five years at Kern Medical Center in Emergency-Admitting before transferring to Beale Memorial Library. She worked at the library for eighteen years until she retired March 31, 1987. Margaret loved to travel and has been to Europe, Australia and many places in North America. She collected charms where ever she went and has enough to fill four bracelets with spare charms left over. Survivors include her sister Maetine Dunn of Bakersfield, California; four sons: Garry Grove of Decatur, Alabama; Richard Grove of Walker Basin, California; Dennis Zismer of Weleetka, Oklahoma, and Ted Grove of Bakersfield, California. Margaret is also survived by her one daughter, Patricia Grove of Bakersfield, California. There are three daughters-in-law: JoAn, the wife of Richard; Pat, the wife of Dennis; and Susan, the wife of Ted. There are seven grandchildren: Brian, son of Garry; Aaron, Jason and Seth, sons of Richard; Jessica and Dennis II, children of Dennis; and Holly, daughter of Ted. Margaret also has many great grand children who fondly remember Nana Allen. She also has many nieces and nephews who remember her as Auntie. Margaret was preceded in death by her father Denzil "Tiny" Damitz on February 14, 1984 and her mother Ruth Damitz on November 11, 1987. Margaret has requested that in lieu of flowers, money be sent for a donation to the California Living Museum, 10500 Alfred Harrell Hwy, Bakersfield, California 93306 in her honor. Margaret has requested no services. She said, "I want people to remember me as they knew me. If you are reading this, I am not here but with my family in heaven." www.bakersfield.com/obits