Jerry Edward Allison

Jerry Edward Allison passed away peacefully on June 21, 2023. He was born on July 13, 1940, to Harvey and Vera Allison in Wichita Falls, Texas. It was a loving childhood but very competitive and busy as Jerry and his three brothers participated in many sports and activities. Jerry had many jobs during his early years that varied from selling men’s clothing to oil field work.

He graduated from Wichita Falls Senior High School in 1958, where he played basketball and baseball. He attended Midwestern State University where he was fortunate to meet and marry Sandy Duckworth in 1961. He was a charter member of the Theta Gamma Chapter of Kappa Sigma Fraternity in which he held many leadership positions. He received his BBA from Midwestern in 1962.

Jerry was commissioned as an Army Officer in 1962. He and Sandy were stationed at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis for officer training, then assigned to Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina for almost three years. He served in many positions during his active duty and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal when he completed his service in September 1965.

After leaving the service, Jerry attended North Texas State University where he received his MBA in 1966. He and Sandy lived in Frisco, Texas, which at that time was a small farming community where Sandy taught school.

In 1966, Jerry started his career with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, which lasted 31 years and took them to Amarillo, Lubbock, and Midland, eventually settling in San Antonio. Sandy transitioned from teaching to volunteering during this period.

During the mid-70s they built houses at Lake Medina with their good friends the Nelsons. They raised their boys, worked hard, played hard, and had a great life. Many, many kids learned to waterski and sail over the 14 years spent enjoying lake life.

Jerry held many leadership positions during his tenure with SWB/SBC/AT&T and lived in San Antonio for 17 years, St. Louis for three years, and Dallas for seven years before he retired in 1997. As Jerry moved through his career, he felt a special connection to those he worked with in Operator Services and loved mentoring others throughout the company. Jerry also was a member of many organizations, including the Telephone Pioneers, Jaycees, and Kiwanis. He was on the boards of Junior Achievement, TMCA, Texas Commerce Bank, Bi-State Chapter of Red Cross in St. Louis, and in Dallas, the Salvation Army ARC, Dallas County Board, Urban League, United Way Assistance League, and Dallas County Community College Foundation.

Jerry and Sandy returned to San Antonio in 2006, to be closer to their oldest son and family, and their youngest son and his wife who moved to Austin the same year. He and Sandy had a loving partnership for 62 years. Retirement was wonderful allowing Jerry and Sandy to travel extensively throughout Europe, Africa, Far East, South America, China, Tibet, Australia, New Zealand – every continent except Antarctica, which wasn’t on the “bucket list.”

Every step in life offered wonderful memories, more opportunities for socialization, education, and enjoyment. Jerry and Sandy loved to dance and had the chance to dance all over the world.

He is survived by his loving wife, Sandy, two great sons, three wonderful grandsons, and numerous nieces and nephews. Matthew Edward Allison and Lisa Fuchs Allison and their three sons, Dale Edward Allison, Benjamin Karl Allison, and Jackson Landry Allison live in San Antonio. Ted Anthony Allison and Jennifer Rappeport Allison live in Austin.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Salvation Army, an organization Jerry felt strongly about.