May 1, 1930 – May 9, 2021
Ginger Allen was a woman of Faith, Curiosity, Determination, and FAMILY.
Mary “GINGER” Harlow Allen was born in Portland, OR to Samuel and Faye Parsons Harlow, on May 1, 1930. She attended school in Troutdale until 1941, then Highland Grade School (now M.L. King School) in Portland, graduating from Jefferson HS in 1948. In 1943, Ginger was baptized and joined, First Presbyterian Church on SW 12th and Alder Street in downtown Portland. Paul S. Wright was the Pastor and John Stark Evans, the organist and choir master. Encouraged by her mother and grandmother led her and sister Bonnie, to attend church conferences and camps. During high school, she spent three summers working at Cannon Beach at various jobs.
Ginger married “Chuck” Allen, September of 1950. Son, Tom, was born March of 1955, daughter, Terri, in 1957, and in 1959, daughter, Tami. In 1960, the Allen’s moved to NE 28th and Mason Street.
Ginger was a homemaker, wife, and mother. She joined organizations like “Meals on Wheels” and “the Women’s Auxiliary of the Urban League”. Attended Bible Study classes for tradition and women’s groups, for consciousness-raising. She and Chuck were avid square dancers, sponsored dinner parties, took their children camping, and toured with author Ralph Freidman, author of “Oregon for the Curious”. They and their family remained active members of First Church. Ginger played an active role with her children, during their school years. She organized a backyard play for the neighborhood, where kids were actors of the book “Ferdinand the Bull”, by Munro Leaf. She helped with Bluebirds and Campfire girls’ activities. She loved everything about Portland! The Rose Festival, the Rose Gardens, The Portland Zoo and downtown Portland, shopping opportunities. She was adventurous, going whitewater rafting, following the “Oregon Trail”, visiting family and historic places across the country. If they weren’t on the road with their 15 ft. trailer, they spent many weekends at their family cabin, in Tierra Del Mar (TDM). From 1975 forward they would take trips to England, France & Scotland, searching for her ancestors and visiting a nearly lifelong “Pen Pal”, Phyllis Dean, who lived in England. They began writing in 1947, and finally meeting in 1975, in South Hampton, England.
In 1979, they moved to Wilsonville, OR. There, she returned to college, earning her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education through PCC, and worked at the college day care facility. She took a strong interest in genealogy, attending classes and actively searching for (distant) families, across the county. Her passion for knowing everything possible about her past and present families and their history, led her to writing about individual family lines. In 2016, she was published by “The Troutdale Historical Society”, for a book she wrote about her, Uncle Clarence, titled: “Warts and All”, by Ginger Harlow Allen.
In 1993 after retirement, they moved to TDM full time – loving every day of it. That year, they joined Nestucca Valley Presbyterian Church and remained active members throughout their days. Together they were active in the community, becoming the first to sign up for the Tillamook County Road Department’s “Adopt-a-Road” program cleaning a 3-mile stretch of Sandlake Road within the community of TDM. They took advantage of retirement by traveling often to visit families and friends, by camper, trailer, or airlines. Ginger joined a writing group and reading group. She loved reading, writing, scrapbooking, genealogy, researching histories, mastering the internet, cooking, baking, traveling, keeping in touch with family and friends on Facebook, by phone and through email. She also loved gladiolas, daffodils, tulips, and the Pacific Rhododendrons that bloom along the roadside between Cape Kiwanda and Tierra Del Mar. She enjoyed celery, tomatoes, clam chowder, and a good Gin & Tonic. She also enjoyed watching; The Food Network, (Chopped), 60 Minutes, The History Channel and OPB. A favorite saying was “Well-behaved WOMEN, rarely make HISTORY”. In the last 10 years, she went Kayaking, zip-lining, in Warrenton; rode the Oregon Coast Railroad, took a cruise to SE Alaska, and attended her “virtual” 90th birthday party. If there was an opportunity to try something, she would, without much hesitation. Her sister, Bonnie can attest to that, from lifelong experiences. She will be missed by many and remembered by all, who knew her!
Ginger was preceded in death, by her husband, Charles T (Chuck) Allen. Ginger is survived by; Son, Tom (Karen); daughters, Terri Allen, and Tami (Bob) Campbell; five grandchildren: Kendra and Karly Allen, Amanda (Aaron) Landvik and 3 great grandsons: Camdyn, Calvin and Crosby; Brooks and Sam Campbell; Sister Bonnie (Pete) Taylor; Nieces: Susan (Jim) Mollerstrom (Tim, Brenna, Kevin), Sharon Van Meter (Matthew and Autumn); and Shelley Overcash, (Alyssa and Tristan); nephew, Scott (Leanna) Taylor (Melissa and Madalyn). Brother-in-laws, Ron Allen, nephew, Mike (Billy), nieces; Kori (Chloe) and Kris (Greg) Blea (Tillie and Beau); and Gary Allen (Pam Patek).
Remembrances: Nestucca Valley Presbyterian, PO Box 337, Pacific City, 97135; Troutdale Historical Society, 219 E. Historic Columbia River Hwy, Troutdale, OR 97060.
DONATIONS
The Troutdale Historical Society
Nestucca Valley Presbyterian Church , Pacific City, Oregon
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