Allen Lee Aston

Allen Lee Aston, of Newburgh, Indiana, formerly of Russellville, Arkansas, born on June 18, 1953 in Covina, California, to the late Ruby Alyene Aston and the late Thurman Lee Aston, passed away at age 65 on March 25, 2019 at Saint Vincent Hospital in Evansville, Indiana.

Immediately after high school graduation, he enrolled in the Buddy Program and enlisted into the U.S. Navy, serving from 1972-1989, a veteran of the Cold War. Allen attended various military schools, concentrating on operation and maintenance of propulsion machinery, auxiliary equipment, emergency equipment, and personnel management and career counseling. He participated in the Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Then, he qualified to attend the Naval Nuclear Power School in Mare Island, California. After successfully completing Nuclear Power School, Allen served on nuclear powered submarines from 1974 to 1986, moving up in rank to become a Chief Petty Officer. Throughout these years in the Navy, Allen qualified on three classes of nuclear powered submarines and as Engine Room Supervisor on three different submarine nuclear plants. This position involved the supervision of three watch-standers in the operation of all non-electrical support and emergency systems for a nuclear reactor, and the maintenance of contaminated and non-contaminated steam and water systems. He coordinated the repair of all non-electrical systems during emergencies. In the AIRCRAFT CARRIER, he qualified as Propulsion Plant Watch Supervisor on board the USS Carl Vinson CVN-70. This position involved the supervision of thirty watch-standers in the operation and maintenance of a 500 MW nuclear reactor and associated propulsion equipment. He coordinated the operation and repair of all reactor and ships systems during emergencies. He concurrently served as the Training Officer for a 115 man division, and as Career Counselor for a 450 man department. He supervised 93 men in the rebuilding of seven berthing spaces, a $250,000, six-week project that was completed before deadline and under budget.

In the MARE ISLAND NAVAL SHIPYARD, he qualified as Ship Supervisor, Ship Safety Super-intendent, and Shipyard Watch Officer. As Ship Superintendent, he coordinated and supervised the overhaul, maintenance, testing, and certification of all non-nuclear systems and structures on a submarine. As Ship Safety Supervisor, Allen directly approved any operation that could cause flooding of the submarine while in the water or the loss of stability while on blocks out of the water. As a Shipyard Watch Officer, he coordinated all shipyard emergency actions during emergencies, including reactor accidents, until relieved by designated personnel. He was also a writer for the Public Works Department, Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, TX.

Allen was awarded two Letters of Commendation and two Meritorious Unit Commendations for outstanding service in the U.S. Navy.

After retiring from the Navy in 1989, Allen attended Arkansas Tech for a year before enrolling at the University of Fayetteville in Arkansas. During this year at Arkansas Tech in Russellville, he met and married Arcea Zapata de Aston, the “Social Butterfly,” as he was to call her for the next 30 years. After that, he fully embraced academic life at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and all the university had to offer. In December 1992, he received a Bachelor of Sciences and Bachelor of Arts degree in Computer Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis, while also completing 24 hours of Accounting courses and 17 hours of Spanish courses.

Allen began his second career in computers for MCI in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1994, serving for 9 years. While working at MCI, he rose through the ranks until being promoted to a Network Engineer III, becoming one of the most technically proficient members on his team, often being called upon to help out in problematic areas and in the most difficult technical situations. He also single-handedly developed reports and internal programs for all the teams at the company, his methodology setting the standard that was used throughout the company, receiving important awards in his field of expertise.

He left MCI and moved with his family to Evansville, Indiana where he started working for BWXT Technology in Mt. Vernon in 2004. He worked there as an event coordinator scheduler, overseeing the projects of building nuclear powered submarine parts, the very parts used in the subs he was in while in the Navy until 2008, when he retired for medical reasons.

Allen’s intellectual curiosity was shown in every aspect of his life. He possessed a prodigious memory for numbers. He always brought a clear and logical mind to any project or work he approached as well as a prodigious energy and abundant knowledge. A computer scholar in his own right, he was always researching and immersed in the world of technology.

He was also a passionate mechanic and Mopar enthusiast, always restoring, repairing, reconstructing, and teaching about cars. He loved taking his boys to car shows. He was a life-long supporter of the arts in many forms. He was also into electronics, an avid reader, science fiction film lover, and a lover of music, especially rock and roll. He was an insatiable traveler, always wanting to learn more about other cultures and its people. But above all else, he was a devoted husband, father, and family man and a loyal friend. He especially loved and cherished spending time with his children, wife, and family members.

He was a seaman at heart, the water became his home away from home when he was a boy, and as his wishes, they will become his final resting place.

Allen was preceded in death by his father, Thurman Lee Aston on January 31, 2019; his mother, Alyene Aston, on June 7, 2012.

Allen was the loving husband of Arcea Zapata de Aston. He is survived by his sons, Alexander Aston Zapata and Andres Aston Zapata; adoptive daughter, Claudia Peña and her daughter, Daniela Benson; brother, Steve Aston and his wife, Aurora Aston of Tulsa, Oklahoma; sister, Benita Aston, of Tulsa, Oklahoma; nephews and niece, Timothy, Jonathan, and Lindsey Aston; best friend, Melvin Corbin and wife, Sherri, of London, Arkansas; beloved aunt, Modean Bowman and husband, Virgil Bowman of Russellville, Arkansas; and several uncles and cousins.

Family and friends are welcome to attend the visitation on Thursday, April 4 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Alexander Funeral Home-Newburgh Chapel, 5333 Old Indiana 261, Newburgh, Indiana, 47630. A Celebration of Life Service with military honors will follow at 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

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