Claude T. Allen

Born the 23rd of August 1926 to Ira Jefferson Allen and Thelma Traweek Allen, he was a native Houstonian born in the Heights. As a young boy the family moved to an Austin stone home in Southampton built by his grandfather, Claude Traweek, an Austin home builder. His sister called it Sunny Stones. He went to Lanier Junior High and graduated from Lamar High School. He attended the Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, New Jersey and Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. He joined the Navy V-5 program and was sent to Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, graduating with a degree in Naval Engineering. “Tex,” as he was called, excelled in athletics and about 15 years ago was honored during half-time at a Tufts football game for an important winning touchdown play. The war ended and he returned home to Houston. He then enrolled in Law School at the University of Texas at Austin, served as president of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and was a member of the Silver Spurs. It was here that he met his future wife from Dallas, Wilma Jean Robertson. Upon graduation he began practicing law with his father’s law firm in Houston. Once, he was warned that Percy Foreman would intimidate opposing attorneys by nudging up against them…Allen stood his ground. He was a trial attorney for over 50 years and never turned away anyone who couldn’t pay. In addition to his law practice, he was involved in owning and/or operating a ranch, crop dusting business, selling Cessna crop dusting airplanes, apartments, a pest control business, a resort fishing lodge, a trucking company, and rental properties and served on the board of many small banks throughout Texas and two in Colorado. Also, he was president of a small bank in deep South Texas. He loved to read fiction and nonfiction alike and often stayed up nights finishing a book. He loved to fly his Piper airplane. He was an avid outdoorsman; sailing, fishing and teaching his sons to hunt. He also enjoyed riding motorcycle trail bikes with his sons and at one time was very active with the Auxiliary Coast Guard. One of his greatest joys was seeing all three sons become Eagle Scouts. He loved spending time with them and always supported them in their goals. In his later years, he adored and enjoyed seeing his four grandchildren.

One of his favorite sayings was “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” He is an inactive member of the Executives Association of Houston and a former president of the Houston Exchange Club. During the Cuban Missile Crisis he was recalled to duty in the Navy Reserve for training as an Intelligence Officer. He was mostly a lifelong Democrat, except for supporting Eisenhower, and served as precinct chairman for over 20 years.

He penned and delivered a Sunday School Devotional admonishing us to emulate Christ concluding it with “…and accept with open heart and mind the words of Jesus, Ye call me Teacher and Lord, and ye do well, for so I am.”

He was predeceased by his parents, Ira Jefferson Allen and Thelma Traweek Allen of Houston; and his sister, Lee Allen Muench of Houston; his brother in law, Nils L. Muench of Key West, Florida; and his brother and sister in law, Hall Robertson and wife Doris of Dallas. He is survived by his wife, Wilma Jean Robertson Allen of Houston; his sons, Claude T. Allen, Jr. of Houston; Matthew R. Allen and wife Marcia of Austin; Lee D. Allen and wife Valerie of Kingwood; grandchildren, Ashley Allen of Houston; Lindsay Allen and William Allen of Austin; Kristen Allen of Kingwood; his brother, Ira J. Allen, Jr. and wife Brenda of Brenham; his brother and sister in law, J.D Robertson and wife Rozell of Duncanville, Texas; his nephews and niece, Travis Allen and wife Charla, Neil Allen and wife Debbie Jo, Billy, Rex and Ross Robertson, Patricia Powers and Peter Karl Muench and wife Valerie.

Claude T. Allen was a great father, Texan and American. We loved him dearly and he will be missed.

The family will gather for a private ceremony with Full Military Honors at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston.