Buddy Allen

After an amazing 85 years of life, Artice "Buddy" Allen, has entered the arms of Jesus. He passed away peacefully in his Huntsville, Texas, home on January 14, 2023.
Buddy was born in Latexo, Texas in 1937. The Allen family relocated to the neighboring community of Grapeland where Buddy grew up on the family farm growing peas, watermelons, and tomatoes. Buddy developed a love for the outdoors at an early age and spent many hours in the Piney Woods of East Texas.
The close-knit Allen family, which soon grew to include Buddy and his three sisters, often hosted relatives in their home and attended Union Chapel Baptist Church in Grapeland. After high school, Buddy attended Sam Houston State University, then known as Sam Houston State Teachers College, where, in 1959, he was awarded a bachelor's degree in Education. Buddy was the first person in his family to attend college and, while there, he met JoAnn, his wife of 63 years. After college, they moved to Houston where they faithfully attended Spring Branch Community Church for many years. In 1975, Buddy returned to Sam Houston State where he earned a master's degree in Education.
During his many years as an educator with the Spring Branch Independent School District, Buddy touched an untold number of lives. His career began as an architectural, drafting, and woodshop teacher at Spring Branch High School. During the next 15 years, he served as a grade-level principal at Stratford High School for the classes of 1980, 1984, and 1987. After retirement, Buddy and JoAnn moved to Elkins Lake and have been active members of Elkins Lake Baptist Church. He was an avid fisherman, golfer, and hunter with a love for nature.
He is survived by his wife, JoAnn, two daughters, Lynn Owen and husband Bill, Lori Kotzur and husband Darrel, sister Linda Cliburn, brother-in-law Gerald Stubbs, grandchildren Brent Owen and wife Sarah, Ashley Kotzur, Allison Schmidt and husband Tyler, Travis Kotzur and wife Katie, Natalie Kotzur and Niki Kotzur, and one great-grandchild Adeline Owen. He preceded in death by his parents Artice and Loreda Allen, sisters Maurice Smith and Nelda Stubbs, and brothers-in-law Max Smith and Jim Cliburn.
Funeral services for Buddy will be held Saturday, January 21, at Elkins Lake Baptist Church. Visitation will be at 10 AM with services at 11 AM. Graveside services will follow at Denson Cemetery in Grapeland, Texas, at 3 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Elkins Lake Baptist Church, 206 State Highway 19, Huntsville, Texas 77340. Memorial condolences to the family may be made at www.shmfh.com.