Robert Clyde Allen

Obituary For Robert Clyde Allen

Robert Clyde Allen

Oct. 6, 1937 to Oct. 27, 2025

Robert "Bob" Clyde Allen, aged 88, passed away peacefully in Virginia Beach, Va., on Oct. 27, 2025. Born Oct. 6, 1937, in Pueblo, Colo., he lived a life dedicated to serving his country and family. After graduating with a Bachelor's degree in sociology from Stanford University, he served in the U.S. Navy, rising to the rank of commander before retiring and serving in a civilian career with the Naval Investigative Service in Washington, D.C. His commitment to protecting and serving the nation was unwavering, and it remained a central aspect of his life until his retirement in 1996, eight years after relocating to Virginia Beach.

Growing up in Seattle, he met the love of his life and married Beverly Ann Estenson, his high school sweetheart, on Jan. 23, 1960. They worked together at the local post office while on Christmas breaks from Stanford and the University of Washington, where she was a nursing student. They spent their honeymoon and the first six months of their married life off the coast of Japan aboard the USS Hancock before returning to the West Coast and being stationed in Alameda, Calif.

They had their first child, Kenneth Robert Allen, while living near Oakland, Calif., before welcoming three more, Douglas Richard Allen, Edward "Ted" Earl Allen, and Susan "Suzy" Beverly (Allen) Franck, while living in Reston, Va., just outside of Washington, D.C. While there, he introduced his family to hiking, cycling, tennis, sailing, and fishing, which he pursued even more passionately after moving to Virginia Beach and living for more than 25 years in Lynnhaven Colony.

Also an avid reader, listener of classical music, film collector, and model railroad train constructor, he most enjoyed traveling with Beverly by bike along the First Landing State Park and New River Trails, by boat throughout Broad Bay, Back Bay, the Lynnhaven Inlet, and the Chesapeake Bay, and by train to national parks across the United States and Canada, often flying back to the Seattle area to visit with her family.

Predeceased by his parents, Clyde and Edith (Anderson) Allen, of Seattle; brother, Richard "Dick" Ivar Allen, of Austin, Texas; and son, Ken, of Sandbridge, Va., he is survived by Beverly, his wife of 65 years; his sister-in-law, Sheila Ann Allen, of Austin, Texas; Doug and Angela Allen of Potomac Falls, Va., Ted and April Allen of Forest, Va., and Suzy and Stuart Franck of Wrightsville Beach, N.C., as well as eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren: Odin and Bjorn, sons of Bryce and Tara Allen of San Diego, Calif., and Brock Allen of Santa Cruz, Calif., sons of Ken and Tina Allen; Hannah and Ryan Allen, twin son and daughter of Doug and Angela Allen; Ashton (Allen) Hackel and Taytum Allen, daughters of Ted and April, and Brodie and Elijah Franck, sons of Suzy and Stuart.

He most recently attended Redeemer Presbyterian Church with Beverly in Virginia Beach.