John W. Allen was born July 15, 1934 in Guthrie, Kentucky, to J.T. and Nancy Allen. He passed away on Thursday, May 3, 2018 at his home, in Longview, Texas. John attended and graduated from Bandana schools, in Bandana, Kentucky, in 1952. He attended Paducah Junior College, where he played basketball from 1952-1954. John attended and graduated from East Texas State Teachers College in Commerce, Texas from 1954-1956. While at East Texas State, he met and later married Wanda Boyd, his wife of 61 years. He later received his Master’s Degree from East Texas State.
After graduation John taught and coached basketball at Ballard County High School, in Ballard County, Kentucky from 1956-1957. Leaving Kentucky for Texas, he taught and coached basketball at Winfield High School, in Winfield, Texas, from 1957-1958. After Winfield, John taught and coached basketball and football, at Throckmorton, Texas, from 1958-1960. He moved to Longview in 1960, where he taught and coached for LISD, until 1965. After leaving LISD, he became the Media Director and Educational Consultant for Region 7 Education Service Center until he retired in 1992. While at Region 7, he worked with many innovative educational programs such as, Individually Guided Education, and Science A-Process Approach.
John was an avid sports fan. He loved golfing, the Kentucky Wildcats, Texas Rangers, Dallas Cowboys, and the Longview Lobos. After retirement, John and Wanda enjoyed traveling through Europe and the United States.
He loved his family. He attended his children and grandchildren’s events as much as possible.
John is survived by his wife, Wanda Allen, of Longview; daughter Vicki Therneau and husband Randy of Longview, TX; daughter Nanette Dyess and husband Jeff of Pearland, TX; grandchildren, Christen Dyess Reyenga and husband Beau of Lantana, TX; Kimberly Dyess Waddell of Pearland, TX; Courtney Therneau of Longview, TX; Callison Dyess Manz and husband Alex of Pearland, TX; great grandchildren, Harper and Wren Reyenga; sister Mary Pace and husband Jimmie of La Center, KY; sister Sally Strickland and husband Mike of Smithland, KY, as well as other family members and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, Nancy and J.T. Allen.
Honorary Pallbearers are Randy Therneau, Jeff Dyess, Tommy Woolley, Beua Reyenga, Jimmie Pace, and Mike Strickland. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, May 11, 2018 at Lakeview Funeral Home, at 5000 W. Harrison Rd. Longview, TX. Mr. Allen will lie instate from 12:00pm to 5:00 pm, Thursday, May 10, 2018, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:
BECAUSE I CARE
P.O. Box 6526
Longview, Texas 75605
