Doris May (Walter) Allen

Doris May (Walter) Allen, 100, passed away at her home on Monday, March 11, 2013 just five hours shy of her 101st birthday. She was born in David City, Nebraska on March 12, 1912 to Fred and Carlene (Miller) Walter. Doris earned a Business Degree in Lincoln Nebraska in 1934 and was a member of the Zeta Chapter of the Kappa Phi – Phi Tau Theta Sorority but her focus was always on her husband and family. She moved to California near the end of WWII and had worked at Safeway Markets for a couple of years before she met and married Frank W. Allen on May 12, 1946. They had been married for 62 years when Frank passed away in 2008. Doris moved around Southern California with Frank when he was discharged from the Navy, when he went to mortuary college, and when they moved to the San Diego area. When Frank talked his youngest brother, Bob, into joining him in the mortuary profession, Doris and Frank along with Bob and his wife Ruth, opened Allen Brothers Mortuary in Vista in 1964. Doris and Frank remained in the Vista and Bonsall area for over 30 years and Doris considered North County her home even though she and Frank moved to Sacramento to live near their son, Jim and his family, for 14 years prior to coming back "home" to San Diego County in 2008. Doris spent over 50 years in San Diego County. Doris is survived by her son, James B. Allen and his wife Lydia of Sacramento, grandsons Christopher and Jeffrey of Sacramento, great-granddaughter Cynthia of Murrieta, sisters-in-law Ruth Allen of Vista and Jean Allen of Livermore, CA, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Frank, her brother "Bucky" and sisters, Helen and Marge. She belonged to several organizations including the Order of the Eastern Star Vista Chapter #556 and then Order of the Eastern Star Fallbrook Chapter #390, Vista High 12 International, Daughters of the Nile, White Shrine, Lionesses (lady lions), to name a few. Doris loved her crossword puzzles, playing cards, Canasta, Yahzee and watching her game shows on TV. She loved crafts, especially working alongside her husband on his woodworking projects. He carved the wood while she painted it and gave it personality. Doris will be remembered as a very giving, caring, and simple person. She loved her family and friends and enjoyed having them around whenever possible. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 20th from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Allen Brothers Mortuary, 1315 S. Santa Fe Avenue in Vista. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, March 21st at 10:00 AM also at Allen Brothers Mortuary. A graveside service will follow at Riverside National Cemetery at 12:30 PM where she will be buried alongside her husband, Frank. The family requests donations be made in Doris' memory to the Shriners Hospital of Los Angeles, 3160 Geneva Street, Los Angeles, CA 90020-1199.