John Wayne Allen

John Wayne Allen, age 93, of Paris, died peacefully on Sunday, August 9, 2015 at Spring Lake Assisted Living Center. Bright-Holland Funeral Home has scheduled a Memorial Graveside service for 10:00 am, Wednesday, August 19, 2015 at Meadowbrook Gardens Cemetery with Reverend Ken Cannon and Reverend Fred Fangio officiating. Wayne was born March 17, 1922 in Roscoe, Texas, the youngest of eleven children, to John Floyd Allen and Cora Bell Smith Allen. Wayne was a lifelong resident of Paris. He graduated from Paris High School in 1939. From 1939-1942, Wayne was a pitcher for the St. Louis Browns baseball farm team known as the Paris Red Peppers. In 1942 Wayne married Margaret Boswell of Paris. She preceded him in death in 1983 having built over 41 years of family and memories. Later in 1942, Wayne was inducted into the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Chaffee, in Arkansas. After his stint in the Army, Wayne was employed by the U.S. Postal Service at the Paris Post Office until his retirement in 1979. In 1995 he married Wanda Oldham Burns and although separated for the past year, due to health needs, they were married at the time of his death. Wayne joined the Paris Gun Club in 1962. With his keen eye and fast reflexes, he was an exceptional skeet shooter for over 40 years and found great joy in competitive shooting. Wayne loved reading the Bible and gained great comfort from listening to gospel music. He was a devout Christian and was a member of First Baptist Church for over 60 years, having taught Sunday School for many of those years. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret, a son, Roger Wayne Allen, along with nine siblings. Wayne is survived by his loving wife of 20 years, Wanda Allen of Longview; daughters, Frissie Lawson & husband Jim of Florida and Dajie de Bin & husband Jerry of Georgia; son, Charles “Chib” Allen & wife Marcie of Waco; eight grandchildren and several great-grandchildren; a sister Margaret Dempsey and niece Mary Margaret Tartar of Paris. The family extends special thanks to Diana Shefts, with Waterford Hospice, as well as the staff at Spring Lake Assisted Living Center, for their attentive care. Also, heartfelt thanks to grandson Roddy Allen and his wife Teresa for their most tender and faithful care.