George (Bud) Allen
World War II U.S. Navy veteran and former Idaho resident George Allen, 87, died peacefully Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, at his home in Petaluma, Calif., after a battle with terminal cancer.
George was born Sept. 6, 1924, to George and Marie Allen in Sacramento, Calif. He and two sisters were raised in San Francisco. After he graduated from George Washington High School in 1942, George joined the Navy and served in World War II, in the Pacific theater for four years.
Following his retirement as a Naval Reserve officer in 1946, George met his first wife. George was married in late 1948 and lived in San Francisco before moving to southern Idaho, where George drove a tanker truck for Standard Oil. The family moved to northern Idaho to be closer to his wife's family. George worked in the Ahsahka lumber mill, then became a farmer in the Teakean-Cavendish area. Together they had four children.
After his divorce, George returned to California in 1963, where he found work with the city of Navato in its Parks and Recreation department, retiring in 1986 as a parks supervisor. George met his future wife in 1964. The couple married in 1965 and enjoyed a 46-year marriage. At his death, he had 11 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
After retirement, George and his wife spent many weeks on the road in their RV. They were members of the Go-Fer-Kix RV club. His wife stated that George was drawn to historical sites and especially was drawn to wherever there was water. He spent many years hunting game in wilderness areas with his stepson.
George was a member of the Petaluma Elks Lodge, having been selected once as the "Elk of the Month" and also as "Elk of the Year." He belonged to the Seniors in Retirement (SIRS) club and had joined the Moose Lodge shortly before his death.
George is survived by his devoted wife of 46 years at the family home; a sister; and seven children.
Memorial services were held Dec. 27 at the Petaluma Elks Lodge. He has been cremated and burial will take place in Sacramento, Calif., at a military cemetery.
The Lewiston Tribune, January 5, 2012, p. 7C
Transcribed by Jill Leonard Nock