Allen Showalter

1934 - 2019

Long time Alaska resident Allen Showalter, 85, passed away peacefully December 5th 2019, while staying at the Pioneer Home in Palmer, Alaska, with family by his side and in his heart.

Allen was born 1934 in Wenatchee Washington to Frances (Ramberg) and Ward Showalter. He graduated from Coulee Dam High School, Coulee Dam, Washington, in 1952.

Allen joined the US Army in 1953 and was based in Kenai, Alaska until his honorable discharge as a Sergeant in of 1955. He went on to receive his Bachelors of Science, Electrical Engineering degree from Washington State University in 1960.

Allen married Joan Koken in the fall of 1956. To that union Richard and Diane were born.

Allen's career took him and his family all over the contiguous United States and even overseas to Afghanistan, Thailand / Vietnam with a total of nineteen moves in sixteen years.

In 1972 Allen returned to the State of Alaska where he worked for City Electric, Alaska Public Utilities Commission, Retherford Associates, CH2MHill and finally retired from the Municipal Light and Power in 1993. Allen then decided to move back to Wenatchee, Washington to work as a Senior Electrical Engineer for Chelan County PUD until his retirement in 1999. With his heart still in Alaska, Allen returned to Anchorage in 1999 to live out his retirement years.

Allen enjoyed the great outdoors of Alaska and he particularly enjoyed boating in the Prince William Sound. He also enjoyed traveling the world where he was fortunate to see many different places such as China, Egypt, Mexico, Sweden, the Panama Canal, Russia, Argentina, Chile, Prague Czech Republic, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, and France, to name a few. Close to home Allen enjoyed time with his family ~ with his son and his family over the holidays and with his daughter and her family in Fairbanks or to one of their cabins. He was a lifelong member of the Moose Lodge for 64 years where he liked to pass time with old friends.

Allen is survived by his children and their spouses, Richard Showalter (Julie); Diane Ludwig (Brooks); his grandchildren, Jessica and William Showalter; Ian, Fin and Eli Ludwig; and his great granddaughter, Serena; his brother Robert Showalter of Kennewick, Washington; and his very close cousin, Lionel Wilson and many others too numerous to mention.

A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date. The family is requesting in lieu of flowers, memorials be made in his name to the Moose Lodge at 4211 Arctic Blvd, Anchorage, AK 99503.