Thomas Lee Allen

Thomas L. Allen of Tyler died Saturday, March 4, 2006. His wife of 32 years, Jane Allen, was with him at the time of his death.

Funeral: 1 p.m. Wednesday at Glenwood United Methodist Church in Tyler. Burial: afterward. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Burks-Walker-Tippit Funeral Home in Tyler.

Pallbearers will be Geoffrey Allen, Jason Allen, Robert Allen, John Allen, Jim Colegrove and Paul Menegay. Honorary pallbearers will be the Glenwood United Methodist Church Chancel Choir, the University of Texas at Tyler Concert Chorale and the University of Texas at Tyler faculty and staff.

Memorials: Glenwood United Methodist Church or a music scholarship fund that is being established in Dr. Allen's name at the University of Texas at Tyler.

Dr. Thomas L. Allen was born in Fort Worth on April 10, 1944, to Elizabeth Ann and Adolph Clark Allen. Tom showed musical talent from his earliest days, a lifelong love that became his career. He earned a B.A. and M.A. in vocal performance from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, and a D.M.A. in choral conducting from the University of Arizona in Tucson.

For the past 15 years he was director of choral activities at the University of Texas at Tyler and music director at Glenwood United Methodist Church. He was also a noted performer in recital, opera and oratorio.

He was a devoted husband, father, granddad, son and brother who will be dearly missed.

He was preceded in death by his father and grandparents.

Survivors: His wife, Jane; children, Geoffrey Allen of Fort Worth, Jason Allen of Fort Worth, Elizabeth and husband, Travis Ellis, of Tyler and Meredith Allen of Tyler; grandchildren, Andrew, Joshua and Jacob Allen, and Baylee Ellis; his mother, Elizabeth Crawford; brothers, Robert and wife, Wendy Allen, and John and wife, Mary Allen; sister, Susan and husband, Jim Colegrove; and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.