Allen B. Carlson

Allen was born on August 11, 1935, in Bogalusa, Louisiana and lived there until August 1941. At that time, his father, who worked for the GM&O railroad, was transferred to Union, Mississippi, where the family lived until August 1949. They subsequently moved to Northport, AL. Allen graduated from the Tuscaloosa County High School in Northport in 1953 and from the University of Alabama in 1957. After studying briefly at the New Orleans Theological Seminary, Allen transferred to the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, from which he graduated in 1962 with the degree of Master of Religious Education. It was here that he met Beverly Clark, who was enrolled in the same course of study. They married on August 19, 1961.

In the early 1960’s, Allen and Beverly moved north to the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area, where they both found teaching jobs at the Friends Central School. While teaching, Allen went on to earn a master’s degree in education from the University of Pennsylvania in 1967. At that time, he began as a faculty member of the newly organized Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, where he remained for the remainder of his professional career. In 1976, he earned his Doctorate in Education from Philadelphia’s Temple University. When Allen retired in June 1998, he was the Associate Dean of Learning Resources at MCCC.

In retirement, Allen and Beverly enjoyed several happy years at the home which Allen designed and had built in picturesque Berkeley Springs, WV. In 2001, they relocated to Fayetteville, PA, ultimately residing at the Quincy Village Retirement Community in Waynesboro, where they lived for the remainder of their days.

Allen was a thoughtful man, generous with his time and resources, and a person who sought to live out the message of one of his favorite verses of scripture, Micah 6:8: “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” He was active in the life of local Baptist, United Methodist, and Lutheran churches throughout his life, spending most of his adult years as a member of Upper Merion Baptist Church in King of Prussia, PA, where he served on numerous boards and in a variety of lay leadership roles. In retirement, he and Beverly served as ambassadors for Quincy Village and Allen also volunteered as a lay Chaplain at Chambersburg Hospital.

Throughout his life, Allen enjoyed gardening and woodworking. He created many pieces of furniture for family members, and undertook several major home renovation projects, carrying out all aspects from design to implementation.

He was an avid reader until the last year of his life, always seeking to learn. He embraced the challenge of synthesizing his faith and practice as he grew in his awareness of current events.

Allen will be remembered as a devoted husband, loving and beloved father, grandfather, brother, and uncle, and a cherished friend to many.

Allen was preceded in death by his parents, John Dewey Carlson and Willie Lou Moye Carlson, his brother, Dr. George Norman Carlson, and his wife of 61 years, Beverly Clark Carlson.

He is survived by his son, William Norman Carlson, and his daughters, Margaret Ellen Carlson, Laura Jean Carlson Dalton (Matthew); grandchildren, AnnMarie Grace Carlson, Helen Faith Dalton, and Rachel Hope Dalton; sisters, Mary Anna Carlson Cannon and Nancy Sue Carlson Kelly, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

A private burial service will be held at the Fishburn Cemetery, Hershey, PA at a date to be determined by the family.

In lieu of flowers, if you so wish, please make a memorial gift in Allen’s memory to the charitable organization of your choice. The family would also be very grateful to read any memories or stories about Allen that you share in the “Add a Memory” section of this website.