Allen Dean Peck

Allen Dean Peck was born on July 31, 1928, in Monticello, Illinois. He was the oldest of five children born to Hazel Bernice Peck (nee Fulk) and Allen Aaron Peck. His formative years were spent in the idyllic town of Monticello, where he and his four siblings were raised among 10 cousins, playing along the Sangamon River with vivid imaginations. Al was the oldest in the cousin group and was affectionately referred to as "Kingpin".

He had the utmost respect and admiration for his mother, who raised her five children to be hardworking and honest. She also instilled in them the invaluable gift of reading and lifelong learning.

One of Allen's prized possessions was the Monticello library card that he and his mother got when he was 5 years old. His mother would excuse her children from their chores if they read books because she knew that opening their minds was a priceless gift that didn’t cost a penny. Allen was a voracious reader of many genres with a particular interest in United States history.

Allen's mother and her five children moved to Louisville, Kentucky, in 1942, where he resided until joining the military service. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps at the age of 17 and was stationed in Denver, Colorado, before he transferred to the Alaska territory. During these years, his lifelong fascination and love for aircraft sparked. He passed through Seattle, Washington, mesmerized by the beauty and climate of the Pacific Northwest. He was honorably discharged from the service and got a job at Boeing as an airplane mechanic. Over time, he became a flight line supervisor, rarely missing a day of work. In Allen's early years at Boeing, he was involved in the manufacture of the first jet airliner, the 707.

Allen met the love of his life, Betty June Rogers, in 1955 at the Boeing plant where Betty worked decaling airplanes. Rumor has it that Allen first laid eyes on Betty under a B-52. They married and together raised five children. Betty had two young sons when they met: Charles Edward and Larry Wallace. They soon added three children to their family: Patricia Ann, James Dean, and Susan Lynn.

Soon after their marriage, they bought their first home in Moses Lake. After six years in Moses Lake, Allen and Betty packed their home and children into a station wagon towing a small utility trailer to embark on a new journey with the Boeing/US Defense Minuteman Missile Program. Over those two years, they moved five times across four states – North Dakota, South Dakota, Missouri, and back to Washington. They then purchased a home in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood, where they resided for 12 years.

While Allen may have been perceived as the strong and silent type, he was deeply sentimental and forever connected with his family of origin. His children remember this with clarity. Saying goodnight to his young daughter during a backyard sleepover, he said, “Look up at the moon and stars, because Grandma Hazel can look up and see the same moon.” He was the dreaming wanderer for his mom and siblings as well.

Al and Betty drove from Seattle to Kentucky and Illinois several times with their five children. To save time and money, it was not unusual to spend a night or two tucked in sleeping bags in a field alongside the road. Beyond the big road trip adventures, every one of his kids fondly remembers Sunday drives with Dad – museums, battlefields, and beaches.

Allen was a curious dreamer, and Betty was the engine. They were a team and complemented each other.

Allen was recruited by some friends to Eastern Washington to work on a large ranch as the irrigation manager, and they lived there for seven years.

Ultimately, they missed the beauty of Puget Sound and the smell of jet fuel. They bought a house in Everett, and Allen returned to Boeing, where he worked on the flight line until his retirement in 1991. Al and Betty have lived contentedly in that home for the past 42 years – where they’ve been the center of gravity for their large, loving family.

Allen and Betty enjoyed their retirement traveling the United States in their adventure van. It was not unusual for them to venture hundreds of miles out of the way to visit a museum or historical site. They made it a priority to attend hundreds of ball games and tournaments to watch their grandchildren participate. Allen especially loved baseball and would remark, "It’s the only game where the defense controls the ball." Again, Allen was the dreamer and Betty the engine that made all his dreams come true.

Allen and Betty were blessed with 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren who have been the fulfilling joy of their lives. When the grandkids were babies, Grandma had them in her arms. Once they could walk and play, Grandpa became their mate. Allen taught his grandchildren to play cribbage. For 40+ years, there have been serious cribbage tournaments at the Peck house, especially during holidays. Beating Grandpa the first time was a right of passage, and nobody was more pleased than Grandpa. Allen's short-term memory may have faded in the past decade, but he was a formidable cribbage opponent up to a few months before his death. Allen and Betty have loved their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren with intensity and wonderment. Allen was preceded in death by one precious grandson, Adam John Peck.

Allen died at home in Everett, as he wished, at the age of 96. His beloved spouse of 70 years, Betty June, took exquisite care of him until the day he died. He lived a full and meaningful life. His family is filled with gratitude that we had him for so many years. He was well-loved and is greatly missed.

Allen was preceded in death by siblings John Lynn Peck, Audrey Francis Fifer, and Nancy Loretta Winfrey. He is survived by one sister, Rosemary Works Nelson.

An inurnment with Military Honors will be held at the Tahoma National Cemetery July 11, 2025 at 11:30 AM, followed by a Celebration Of Life at the home of James Peck on July 12th.

In lieu of flowers, we kindly ask that you leave a comment or share a favorite photo of Allen. Your memories and tributes will be cherished by our family.