Allen D. Strong

1941 - 2023

Allen D Strong

March 2, 1941 - November 5, 2023

Citrus Heights, California - Allen D. Strong b. March 2, 1941 d. November 5, 2023

Allen was born March 2, 1941 to Cleora Anna (Nirk) and Arthur Dwight Strong. During his high school years at Potlatch High School in Idaho he played football, basketball, baseball, and ran track. He also played trumpet and started the Stardusters, a dance band which he played in until his junior year in college.

Allen enrolled in the University of Idaho the fall of 1959, and joined the ROTC in 1962. He met the love of his life, Ellen (Betsy) Morken in his 4th year in college.

In 1961, Allen and seven other college teammates pushed a hospital bed from Moscow, Idaho to the steps of the state capitol in Boise, Idaho. The trip covered 360 miles, took 96 hours, set a World Bed Pushing Team record, and raised $136 (a respectable amount of money at that time) for the Leukemia Society.

In 1964 Allen graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree, married Betsy, and received his commission as an officer in the Army, and bought a 1957 Chevy Belair hardtop which took he and his new bride to his military assignment in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He received an honorable discharge in 1966 with the rank of Captain, and moved to Sacramento, California.

In 1967, Allen joined Dreyfuss & Blackford Architect Group and stayed with them until 1987. That same year, he started Silva Strong Architects with fellow architect Stan Silva. He retired in 2000. During his 57 years in California, Allen was a youth elder at the Celtic Cross Presbyterian Church, and he held memberships with the American Institute of Architects, the Construction Specifications Institutes, and the National Council of Architectural Boards.

He and his wife were avid travelers, both home and abroad. During their lifetime together they visited many states and national parks in the United States as well as numerous sites in the U.S., North America, Europe, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

Allen is survived by his wife Betsy of 59 years, daughter Tracy (husband Jim), brothers Don (wife Valerie) and Gary (wife Carolyn), sister Linda (husband Greg), grandson Anthony Outman (wife Jessica), and granddaughter Rebecca Outman, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Dwight & Cleora Strong, son Michael, and brother Doug.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, December 2 at 11:00 AM at Celtic Cross Presbyterian Church in Citrus Heights. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Celtic Cross Memorial fund, Shriners Hospitals (where his son was treated for15 years), SPCA, or a charity of your choice.