Dr. Neil Curtis Allen departed this life on April 6, 2014 to be with his Heavenly Father. Neil was born on October 31, 1919 in Manhattan, Kansas to Jessie and Clarence Allen. The family moved to Lincoln, Nebraska in 1923 where he was a three-sport letterman at Jackson High School. Following graduation, he attended the University of Nebraska spending 2 years in Arts and Science and 3 years in the College of Pharmacy. With the outbreak of WWII, Neil’s National Guard Unit was mobilized and he spent 9 month training raw recruits in hand to hand combat. Neil married his high school sweetheart, Isla Mae Alder (daughter of Dr. Homer and Ruth Alder) on December 24, 1941. He transferred to the U.S. Army Air Force for pilot training at Sikeston, Missouri and later entered bombardier training at Big Spring, Texas where he became Cadet Adjutant, giving the Cadet Response at graduation. He stayed on at Big Spring as an instructor of bombardiers for 14 months before receiving orders to join the 19th Bomb Group of the 20th Army Air Force for training in B-29 super fortress bombers. Stationed on the Pacific Island of Guam, Neil flew 21 combat missions as lead bombardier of the 28th Squadron over the Japanese home islands. Neil won two distinguished flying crosses, as well as the air medal with multiple oak leaf clusters and a bronze star. Following the end of WWII, he returned to Lincoln, Nebraska and entered the University of Nebraska College of Dentistry graduating with honors in 1950. The family moved to Oklahoma City where Neil established a dental practice. Neil served as the president of the Methodist Men at the Village Methodist Church, Cub Scout Master, president of the Andrew Johnson Elementary School PTA, Assistant Scout Master and served as a Village Trustee and Mayor. Neil retired from dentistry at the age of 65 to play golf, fish, and watch his offspring multiply and succeed in their endeavors.
Neil was preceded in death by his wife of 71 years, Isla Mae, a brother, Keith Allen, sons Jay Victor Allen and Thomas Neil Allen. Neil is survived by his son, Michael Dennis Allen (wife Pia Kattov Allen), and his daughter, Karen Lee Allen. He is additionally survived by grandchildren: Kyle Allen, Britt Allen Reece (husband Tracy), Michelle Determan, Kourtney Ecker (spouse Bobby), James Thomas Allen, Stacie Allen and great grandchildren: Ryan Reece, Kennedy Maness, Raegan Reece, and Rylee Reece.
Funeral Services will be 2:00 PM, Friday, April 11, 2014 at Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper. Please make charitable donations to the Alzheimer’s Association, 2123 N. Classen Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73106.
Arrangements under the direction of Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Funeral Directors, Oklahoma City, OK.
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