Richard Bartow Allen

PEACHLAND – On Monday, August 25, 2025, Mr. Richard Bartow Allen, 68, passed away peacefully at his cabin home in Peachland.

Funeral services will be 10:00 AM, Friday, August 29, 2025 at Peachland Baptist Church with Rev. Tony High officiating. Interment will follow in Peachland Cemetery.

The family will greet friends from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM, Thursday, August 28, 2025 at Leavitt Funeral Home and other times at the family’s cabin home.

Richard was born December 4, 1956 in Anson County, NC and was a son of the late Thomas Waddell Allen and the late Emma Belle Little Allen. He was a graduate of Bowman High School. He worked in taxidermy following high school to put himself through college and graduated from Wingate University with a Bachelor of Science Degree.

He worked for a number of years with the Wadesboro Police Department as an officer and detective. While employed by Cuddy Farms, he started Allen’s Professional Investigations, which has employed many men and women in the area as security officers for businesses in Anson and surrounding counties. In 2007, Richard opened Allen’s General Store in Peachland, which later became Allen’s Restaurant.

A true servant of the people, Richard served the Town of Peachland as Mayor for 18 years. He also served on the Peachland Zoning Board, the Peachland Cemetery Committee, the NCDOT Board of Transportation, the NC Private Protective Service Board, and the Anson County School Board. Richard was always willing to be supportive of the Town of Peachland and Anson County, as he often sponsored teams and events through Field of Dreams, Anson County Ducks Unlimited, Wadesboro Rotary Club and the Anson County Chamber of Commerce.

An avid outdoorsman, Richard’s love for animals and nature started young. As a boy and teenager, he took care of various animals to include snakes, racoons, a fox, an alligator, and deer, to name a few. He went on to obtain his taxidermy license and continued to hunt deer, turkeys, quail, ducks, and rabbits, a love that was passed down to his family. In more recent years, he was a strong supporter of Hands of a Sportsman, and volunteered with the Anson County Hands of a Sportsman Youth Deer Hunt, which was first held at his cabin for youth and individuals with disabilities. This event has grown over the years to be one of the largest events in Anson County for young people.

Those left to cherish his memory include his children, Nicole Steagall and her husband, Travis, and Brian Allen and his wife, Mary Lena; his grandchildren, Emma Steagall, Allie Steagall, and Jacob Allen, all of Peachland; his brother, Tommy Allen and his wife, Debbie, of Monroe; numerous cousins; and a multitude of friends who were like extended family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hands of a Sportsman, 9820 Casor Rd., Salisbury, NC 28146 or to Peachland Cemetery, c/o, Gloria Overcash, 1642 Upper White Store Rd., Peachland, NC 28133.

The arrangements are in care of Leavitt Funeral Home and online condolences may be made at www.leavittfh.com