Loretta Allen

Loretta May Brueggeman Allen, 90, died Saturday, July 17, 2010 at Elmcroft of Ontario. She was born on July 18, 1919 in Alton, Illinois to Mark and Elizabeth Bray Brueggeman. She was the oldest of eight children, four of whom survive. Loretta was preceded in death by her husband, Lt. Col. James F. Allen, whom she married on September 18, 1946. He died on June 18, 1969 at the age of 51 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by sisters, Josephine Brueggeman and Marcella Swinney; two brothers, Mark and Robert Brueggeman; and a niece, Barbara Brammer.

Loretta graduated from Marquette High School in 1937, and from St. Joseph's School of Nursing in October 1940 as a registered nurse. On December 7, 1941, she joined the Army Nurse Corp and was sworn in January 1942. She served in WWII as a surgical nurse and returned to active duty during the Korean War. She was awarded nine service medals for her service during both wars, including the Meritorious Service Medal for "Outstanding non-combat meritorious achievement in service to the United States" and the Army Commendation Medal. She achieved the rank of Captain and retired from the Army Reserve on November 15, 1962. During the remainder of her career as a registered nurse, she continued to serve her country in the United States Civil Service. She retired from the Medical Research and Development Laboratory at Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland in 1979. She is honored in the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington Cemetery and the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C., as is her husband, Lt. Col. James F. Allen, and her brothers, Jack, Mark, and Robert Brueggeman.

Loretta is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Susan Allen Palmer and Lawrence Palmer; three grandchildren, Christina North and husband, Steve North, Kelly Palmer and husband, Dave Myers, and Mark Allen Palmer; great-grandson, Stephen North III; her namesake, great-granddaughter, Mary Loretta North; sisters and brother-in-law, Mary and Tom Papin, and Nonie Brunner; brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Rosie Brueggeman; as well as many nieces and nephews. She was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 24, 2010 at St. Peter's Catholic Church. Friends may call from 9:30 to 10:45 Saturday at the Diamond Street Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, 98 S. Diamond St., Mansfield. Burial will be held Thursday, October 28, 2010 in Arlington National Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, 7020 AC Skinner Parkway, Suite 100, Jacksonville, Florida 32256, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, or MedCentral Hospice, 1020 Cricket Lane, Mansfield, Ohio 44906.