"Beloved Mother and friend to many in China and the U.S."
Survived by four children: Carol Allen Green (Fred) of Corydon, IN, Linda Allen and Steven Allen of Louisville, Robert Allen (Joanna) of Salem, IN; four grandchildren: Daniel Green, Karen Green, Tristan Allen (Heather) and Tessa Fleener (Silas); two great-grandchildren: Lana Allen and Eleanor Fleener; a sister, Mary Lewter of West Palm Beach, FL. Two valued sisters-in-law: Louise Knecht and Beverly Knecht.
Betty graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a B. S. in Nursing. In 1949 she moved to Louisville to attend a Bible Training Institute at Portland Avenue Church of Christ and worked at Jewish Hospital and General Hospital. In 1956 she flew to Manila, Philippines to marry Dennis Allen and join him in mission work there. After about 2 years, they relocated to Hong Kong with their firstborn, Carol, and began to serve among the refugees who were fleeing the upheavals in China. The work grew into a vibrant Christian fellowship with many young people. Betty taught at Hong Kong Christian College, hosted Bible studies, and became a mother figure to many of the girls whose own mothers worked long hours. During this time she had three more children: Linda, Steven and Robert.
In 1975 they moved back to the States to care for elderly parents in Louisville. Betty taught History at Portland Christian School until they moved up to Salem in 1980 to be part of Agape Christian Fellowship. Betty worked at Meadowview Nursing Home and as a visiting nurse with Hoosier Uplands. She and Dennis returned to China several years to teach English in Tientsin at Nankai University, in Harbin at a Language Institute and in Quanzhou with New Beginnings Language Institute.
Shortly after returning stateside and celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2006, Betty suffered her first of three strokes. Over the next 15 years she rose to the challenge of gradually increasing left-sided weakness with its requisite hurdles. However, she kept her wit and ability to communicate until the end. The Lord is good!
Her Beloved Chinese family supported her immensely during these last years, with phone calls, visits(some came all the way from Hong Kong!) generous gifts and prayers. She was overwhelmed by their love and at gave her strength to keep going.
She loved God and other people. We, her children, rise up and called her blessed. She loved us well.
Private burial, Evergreen Cemetary, Louisville, Kentucky.
Celebration of Life Service tba at future date.
Expressions of Sympathy may be sent to "Cup of Joy," (a coffeeshop ministry in the Portland Neighborhood), c/o 2415 Portland Ave, Louisville, KY 40212
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