ALLEN, John Thomas
Born on March 17, 1920 in Jarrow, Alberta; passed away peacefully in the palliative care unit of Nanaimo Hospital on February 23, 2007 at the age of 86.
John is survived by his wife Dawneen Cooper-Allen and her loving family; sisters Jessie Allen and Grace Allen; brother Douglas (Mary); brother-in-laws Nick Reynolds and Norman Foster; and sister-in-law Frances (Dot) Foster. Also survived by numerous nephews and nieces and great-nephew, Kieran James Foster. Predeceased relatives include his first wife of 42 years, Ella (Foster) Allen; sisters Edith Reynolds and Beatrice Allen; brother Walter Allen; and his parents Walter and Mabel Allen.
John joined the Canadian Scottish Regiment, and was proud to serve in the liberation of Holland (Wagenborgen, 1945) and in the Occupation Army. He moved from the family farm in Alberta to Coombs, BC in 1946, and worked in the logging industry, first as a faller, then as a heavy-duty mechanic. For a year he fished on his boat, the Lady Nella. He moved to Emerald Estates, Parksville, in 1992. John was a faithful member of Grace United Church in Coombs, where he served as treasurer and greeter for over 40 years. He proudly proclaimed himself to be “a good hymn singer”. He was also a volunteer for the Coombs Fire Department, and was known for his prolific garden in Coombs, and in particular for his outstanding rhubarb patch. John was admired and appreciated for his wisdom, down-to-earth practicality, humbleness, helpfulness to others, quiet sense of humour, and for his amusing sayings.
A memorial service will be held at Grace United Church in Coombs on Tuesday, March 6 at 1:30 pm, followed by refreshments downstairs. An inurnment will be held for the immediate family at Cedar Valley Memorial Gardens on March 17.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of BC, Parksville-Qualicum Unit, Box 730, Parksville, BC V9P 2G8, or another charity of choice.