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BORN
1918
DIED
2014
Allen Allion Obituary
(News article) BLOOMDALE, Ohio - Allen L. Allion, charter principal in 1960 of the high school in the newly consolidated Elmwood Local district who was an elected official in his two hometowns, died Saturday in Blanchard Valley Hospital, Findlay. He was 95.
He was in declining health the last month, his son Tony said.
Mr. Allion retired in 1979 as an Elmwood guidance counselor, his job for most of his tenure with the district. About 20 years earlier, Superintendent M.E. Acocks brought Mr Allion to Elmwood in southern Wood County, which was formed from the former Wayne, Cygnet, Bloomdale, and Portage Township districts.
Mr. Allion presided over a new million-dollar building, about 350 students, and 25 teachers - "all college graduates," noted a Blade district profile. At the dedication in 1960, Ralph McDonald, president of Bowling Green State University, told the capacity crowd, "You are seated in the most outstanding high school building of its kind in the state."
The day's pomp included Stanley L. Fox, supervisor of the state department of education, presenting the Elmwood charter to Mr. Allion.
"It was a new thing, trying to bring four different communities together," Tony said. "It was a challenge always."
Mr. Allion drew on his classroom background to understand teachers'? and students' concerns. He could "talk to folks about issues or problems they had [and] find out what those problems were and work toward solving them," his son said.
His first job was teaching physics and chemistry at the former Monclova High School. He taught and coached football and baseball at Ottawa Hills High School and was principal of Whitehouse Elementary School.
He was born in Whitehouse on Dec. 24, 1918, the youngest of five, to Mae and Homer Allion. His father, a grocer, was Whitehouse mayor and later served on council and as fire chief. The younger Mr. Allion later was a member of council in Whitehouse and, in the 1970s, was mayor of Bloomdale.
"I'm sure my dad was following in the footsteps of trying to serve your community," said his son Tony, who was Wood County engineer for 24 years.
Mr. Allion was a graduate of Whitehouse High School and BGSU, where he was catcher on the baseball team. Afterward, he enlisted in the Army served in the 41st Evacuation Hospital, a mobile unit, in North Africa and across Europe during World War II. He received a master'?s degree in administration and counseling from BGSU.
A knitter of accomplishment, he received blue ribbons at the Wood County Fair.
He was a former commander of the American Legion post in Whitehouse. He taught adult Sunday school at Trinity United Methodist Church in Bloomdale.
Surviving are his wife, Ruthanna, whom he married Nov. 25, 1942; daughters, Alana Hopman and Angie Allion; sons, Allen and Tony Allion; seven grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday in the Smith-Crates Funeral Home, North Baltimore. Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in Trinity United Methodist Church, Bloomdale.
The family suggests tributes to the church or a charity of the donor's choice.
Contact Blade Staff Writer Mark Zaborney at: [email protected] or 419-724-6182.
He was in declining health the last month, his son Tony said.
Mr. Allion retired in 1979 as an Elmwood guidance counselor, his job for most of his tenure with the district. About 20 years earlier, Superintendent M.E. Acocks brought Mr Allion to Elmwood in southern Wood County, which was formed from the former Wayne, Cygnet, Bloomdale, and Portage Township districts.
Mr. Allion presided over a new million-dollar building, about 350 students, and 25 teachers - "all college graduates," noted a Blade district profile. At the dedication in 1960, Ralph McDonald, president of Bowling Green State University, told the capacity crowd, "You are seated in the most outstanding high school building of its kind in the state."
The day's pomp included Stanley L. Fox, supervisor of the state department of education, presenting the Elmwood charter to Mr. Allion.
"It was a new thing, trying to bring four different communities together," Tony said. "It was a challenge always."
Mr. Allion drew on his classroom background to understand teachers'? and students' concerns. He could "talk to folks about issues or problems they had [and] find out what those problems were and work toward solving them," his son said.
His first job was teaching physics and chemistry at the former Monclova High School. He taught and coached football and baseball at Ottawa Hills High School and was principal of Whitehouse Elementary School.
He was born in Whitehouse on Dec. 24, 1918, the youngest of five, to Mae and Homer Allion. His father, a grocer, was Whitehouse mayor and later served on council and as fire chief. The younger Mr. Allion later was a member of council in Whitehouse and, in the 1970s, was mayor of Bloomdale.
"I'm sure my dad was following in the footsteps of trying to serve your community," said his son Tony, who was Wood County engineer for 24 years.
Mr. Allion was a graduate of Whitehouse High School and BGSU, where he was catcher on the baseball team. Afterward, he enlisted in the Army served in the 41st Evacuation Hospital, a mobile unit, in North Africa and across Europe during World War II. He received a master'?s degree in administration and counseling from BGSU.
A knitter of accomplishment, he received blue ribbons at the Wood County Fair.
He was a former commander of the American Legion post in Whitehouse. He taught adult Sunday school at Trinity United Methodist Church in Bloomdale.
Surviving are his wife, Ruthanna, whom he married Nov. 25, 1942; daughters, Alana Hopman and Angie Allion; sons, Allen and Tony Allion; seven grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday in the Smith-Crates Funeral Home, North Baltimore. Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in Trinity United Methodist Church, Bloomdale.
The family suggests tributes to the church or a charity of the donor's choice.
Contact Blade Staff Writer Mark Zaborney at: [email protected] or 419-724-6182.
Published by The Blade on Jul. 31, 2014.
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