Allen was born in Seattle, Washington on November 15, 1942. He was raised in Battleground, Washington by his parents, John & Agnes Lee and grew up with his four brothers and two sisters. He served in the US Navy from January 1962 to July 1964. He was honorably discharged. Immediately afterwards, he attended Bethany College of Missions for the next three years.
In 1969, he joined New Life League and imported a van & trailer to Colombia to be used for medical services at the Immanuel hospital in Bogota, Colombia. While in Colombia, he visited the Motilon tribe in the Northeastern jungles of Colombia. Back from the jungle, he stayed at the Wycliffe Bible Translators group house in Bogota where he met his wife Teresa. They got married in Bogota in March 1971.
Throughout his life of dedication to God, family and work, he honored the Lord and shared the Gospel of eternal life through Jesus Christ by His sacrifice of His life to cleanse us from all of our sins, for our redemption.
Allen is survived by his wife, Teresa; daughters, Andrea & Aurora; son Mark; grandchildren, Taylor and Owen; his brothers, Richard, Bill, John and Frank; his two sisters, Patricia and Mary; and loving extended family.