Mary Martha Kinney Allan

Mary Martha Kinney Allan
Mary Martha Kinney Allan formerly of Wayne PA, passed away peacefully at age 87 on Tuesday, March 22nd at Freedom Village, West Brandywine, PA. A devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, her home and her family were the center of her life. Mary was a professionally trained vocalist and her repertoire ranged from classic opera to Broadway show tunes, hymns to "colorful" trench songs she learned as an Army brat during WWII. Music, art, and literature were her greatest passions.
Mary was born in Columbus Ohio to Lt. Col (Dec) Joel Fernando Kinney VIII and Lola Murrell Hanes Kinney. She was raised in Hyde Park, Cincinnati, Ohio. While her father and uncles were deployed during WWII, Mary and her cousins were raised together and ran the grounds of "The Pines", the home of her great Aunt Martha Kinney Cooper. Her fondest childhood memories were made there. Mary graduated from Withrow High School and trained in vocals at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Following high school, she attended Hanover College in Hanover, Indiana where she met James Mason Allan, her physics class teaching assistant. Following Jim's college graduation, they married in Morris, IL. Mary and Jim settled first in Morris and then Joliet, IL where they raised their family. Mary was a member of Phi Mu sorority, active in the Joliet Ballet Society and served on Joliet Bicentennial Park committees. She promoted "Art goes to School" in Joliet grade schools, was active in Mardi-Gras and Jubilation committees at St. Francis Academy and was a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (Nellie Custis chapter).
Mary and Jim relocated to Wayne, PA in 1978 for Jim's job with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and later spent their retirement years enjoying their home, family and grandchildren. Mary and Jim shared 66 years of marriage.
Mary is preceded in death by her husband, James Mason Allan, daughter Linda Allan Clarke, her parents and her brother Joel Fernando Kinney, IX. She is survived by daughter Barbara Allan Targowski (John), daughter Patricia Allan Dodson (late E. Griffith III), sister in law Gloria Allan Koeppel, grandchildren Kathleen Targowski Ashenfelter, John Matthew Targowski (Jessica), James Allan Clarke, Julia Allan Dodson, Elizabeth Kinney Clarke and E. Griffith Dodson IV, great grandchildren Nicholas and Nathaniel Ashenfelter and Jacob and Jeremy Targowski, nephews Dr. Thomas McElvain (Marilee) , Bruce Koeppel, Dr. John Koeppel and Robert Koeppel (Suzanne), and son in law Clifford D. Clarke. She is also survived by her dear friend and fellow musician Mrs. Deb Lundy of Freedom Village.
Mary's family would like to thank Noelle, Anita, Chloe, Celeste, Sammi and Yvette from Freedom Village and Southeastern Home Health for the extraordinary care she received.
A private graveside service will be held Friday, April 1st, 2022 at Philadelphia Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated in Mary's name to the Ohioana Library. The library was founded in 1929 by Mary's great Aunt and former Ohio First Lady, Martha Kinney Cooper, to collect, preserve, and promote the works of Ohio authors, artists, and musicians. Ohioana Library 274 E. First Ave., Suite 300. Columbus, Ohio 43201
Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. of West Chester, PA 610-696-1181; www.DellaFH.com.