Barbara Ethel (Thomas) Allen

Whenever you visited Barbara, you could count on three things – plenty of conversation, cut flowers from her garden (in season), and a sweet treat. Barbara Ethel (Shouse) Allen passed away May 10 in Olympia at the age of 89.

She was born Oct. 23, 1933 to John Robert and Eleanor Shouse in Port Alberni, British Columbia and grew up in Seattle, where she graduated from Lincoln High School in 1951.

She married her high school sweetheart, Roger Wayne Thomas, who at that time was in the U.S. Air Force in Biloxi, Mississippi, on Jul. 11, 1952, and soon after began his service in the Korean War. After his return and discharge, they moved to Seattle where he graduated from the University of Washington as a civil engineer. They moved around quite a bit -- California, Olympia, Idaho, and Des Moines (WA).

After an active and joy filled 11 years of marriage, including having four children, Roger was tragically killed in a light plane crash at just 30 years old. Barbara took her four kids and moved back to Olympia, where they had lived for a while after he graduated from UW and where she was happiest. She would live in Olympia for the rest of her life.

After four years of widowhood, Barbara met and married William L. Allen, Jr., a widower and another civil engineer, on March 9, 1968 in Olympia. He brought his own four kids into the marriage, so it truly was, “eight is enough.” Bill passed away on Nov. 26, 1998. Barbara is survived by her children – Bill Allen, III, Bob Thomas (Gail), Bonnie Allen, Randy Thomas, Dwight Allen, Ron Thomas, Pat Allen, and Brad Thomas (Janell). She is also survived by twelve grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.

After all the kids had left, and the house became too quiet, she went to work as a page in the Tumwater Library – at sixty years old. This was her first real paying job since a short stint as a switchboard operator after high school. She went on to work about twenty years in the library, retiring at 80 as the oldest employee the library had ever had (as far was anyone could remember).

Barbara was a loving and caring wife and mother. She had a number of passions – working her cut flower garden, visiting with friends and family, reading, baking (especially known for her cookies), taking long walks, coffee, the Mariners, and travel. She will be deeply missed by her family and by so many others whose lives she touched during her long life.

There will be a Celebration of Life to remember and honor Barbara at noon on June 3rd at the Lacey Community Center. Please RSVP at http://tinyurl.com/473wm6un