John was a Seaman First Class in the United States Coast Guard during WWII. He was on the USS Leonard Wood headed for Oran Africa and then to the Sicilian beach head where he was separated from his squad. This was when he became a part of the Salerno Invasion. Later in his service, the Red Cross arranged for him to meet up with his brother (who served as a USAAF bombardier) in England. In 1946, he was honorably discharged in New Orleans where he hitchhiked home to Houston. He married the love of his life, Jo Nell Bluhm, in 1946. They were together for 65 years until her death in 2011. They had three children. John was an airplane mechanic, business owner, managed condos at Purgatory Ski Resort, homebuilder, cabinetmaker, restaurant owner, dance teacher, tire and gas station owner. He was always drawn toward the arts and had several loves; orchids, painting on canvas, music, but most of all, his dancing.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years Jo Nell Allen, survived by his sons John Allen Jr of Pasadena Texas, Kerry J. Allen of Onalaska Texas, his daughter Cheryl K. Allen of Chandler Arizona, three grandchildren, three great grandchildren, and many, many friends. John spent his remaining years with Dottie Bruce of Panorama Village Texas. He was a husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and we will miss him immensely. We could not have been blessed with anyone as great as our Dad.
Visitation will be held at Cashner Funeral Home (801 Teas Road, Conroe, Texas, 77303) on Wednesday, July 17, 2019, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. Funeral service for John Lawson Allen Sr. will be held at the Cashner Colonial Chapel, on Thursday, July 18, 2019, at 10:00am with Interment following in Garden Park Cemetery. To leave condolences for the family, please go to cashnerconroe.com
