Ronald Keith Allen

Ronald Keith Allen (Ron), of Sun City, Arizona passed away on Tuesday, December 27, 2016, at the home of his daughter in Castle Pines, Colorado. He was born on April 20, 1932 in Niagara Falls, N Y., the son of Leonard Jerome Allen and Helen Crawford Allen. Ron died peacefully holding his newly born great granddaughter and singing hymns with some of his grandchildren. For almost 3 years he valiantly dealt with Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Cancer and never complained.

Ron graduated from Cornell University in Ithaca N.Y. after having attended Niagara University and Youngstown High School. Upon graduating from college, he fulfilled his military tour of duty in the Army at the Ft. Bliss Base in El Paso, Texas. Upon Discharge, he returned to upstate New York where he was a County Agent in Niagara County and in Livingston County. He also worked at Hooker Chemical Company in Niagara Falls and American Cyanamid, in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Fulfilling a dream of being self- employed, he and his wife, Mary, opened a Carvel Ice Cream Store in Yardville, N. J. Several years later, his entrepreneur tendencies resulted in the purchase of some Meineke Muffler Shops. Their two children Leonard and Stephanie and son in law, Ralph Yarusso were involved in the businesses and eased their decision to retire early to pursue a more leisurely life. His years of coaching his son's football and baseball teams and taking his daughter to dance and piano lessons were now behind him.

Retirement allowed Ron to become more active in church, to participate in Field Trialing with the English Setters that he raised, to play tennis, to play golf in many states and in Costa Rica and China. He and his wife traveled extensively and enjoyed each other, their wonderful children and grandchildren, and great granddaughter. He never stopped thanking God for the many blessings bestowed upon him and his family.

Ron is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Mary Allen, his son, Leonard John Allen, his daughter, Stephanie Lynne (Allen) Yarusso, Son-in- law, Ralph Yarusso, eight grandchildren, Justin, Courtney (Waite) Caitlin (Buckingham), Collin, Jillian, and Chloe Yarusso and great grandchild, Olivia Waite. Also grandson, Geoffrey Allen and granddaughter, Sarah Allen. He is also survived by his sister, Ruth Dann and her husband, Matthew, and many sister and brothers-in-laws and nieces and nephews.

A Memorial service celebrating Ron's life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, January 27, 2017, at Maranatha Baptist Church, 9120 N 95th Ave. Peoria, Az. 85345. Interment with Military Honors will take place at 2:00 p.m. at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 North Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, Az. 85024

In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to Hospice of the Valley , 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, Az. 85014; or Maranatha Baptist Church Memorial Fund, 9120 N. 95th Ave. Peoria, Az. 85345.