Obituary of The Reverend Radford B. Allen

The Reverend Radford B. Allen, Jr., age 95, went to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on May 30 and heard the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”A fourth generation Texan, he was born in Lufkin on March 15, 1925, to Radford B., Sr., and Clara Rose Crenshaw Allen. Fr. Allen’s family moved to Louisiana in 1933. He graduated from Dubberly High School in 1942 and received a bachelor’s degree in zoology/medical technology with a minor in sociology from Louisiana Tech University in 1951.Fr. Allen served in the Navy from 1943 to 1947 as a Pharmacist’s Mate 2nd class, on the hospital ship USS Benevolence in China and the destroyer USS Chevalier in China and Japan. He was aboard the Benevolence during Operation Crossroads, the first post-war atomic bomb test at Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands, in July, 1946. He received the Navy Good Conduct Medal, the China Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Word War II Victory Medal and the Navy Occupation Service Medal for Japan.In 1950, Fr. Allen married Lina Lea Lusk. They moved to west Texas, and their son, Drew, was born in 1951. He was a pharmaceutical salesman for Lederle Laboratories Division of American Cyanamid based in Corsicana. After transferring to Fort Worth in 1961, they adopted their daughter Ann in 1964.Fr. Allen grew up Baptist and as an adult was a deacon, Bible teacher, and a youth sponsor. In 1971, the family joined All Saints’ Episcopal Church, where he was a vestry member, a lay reader, and chalice bearer. He entered the Anglican School of Theology at the University of Dallas, earning a Licentiate in Sacred Theology and in 1979, was ordained to the priesthood. He served at All Saints’ and Christ the King in Fort Worth, and was vicar at St. Martin’s in the Fields in Keller. Fr. Allen was rector of St. John’s in Brownwood from 1985 to 1990. He served as a Chaplain (Lt. Col.) in the Civil Air Patrol Auxiliary of the Air Force from 1983 to 1993.Fr. Allen was active in Republican precinct work, Boy Scout troop leadership, pharmaceutical societies, Kiwanis Club, and Citizens on Patrol. He loved flying airplanes as a private pilot, firearms, history, genealogy, ham radio, Navy-Marine Corps MARS, computers, reading, and attending Navy reunions all over the U.S.He was president of his fraternity, Tau Kappa Epsilon, at Louisiana Tech and was a member of Alpha Pi Epsilon honorary biology fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, the Guild of All Souls, and the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament. Fr. Allen belonged to the Sons of the American Revolution, the Texas State and National Rifle Associations, the Second Amendment Foundation, the National Association of Atomic Veterans, the American Legion, and Veterans of Foreign Wars.Fr. Allen went by various names: Rad, R.B., Fr. Rad, Ann’s Dad Rad, Popa, Popso, and the Pistol Packing Padre, among others. He was well liked by all who met him. The family is happy he is with the Lord because his last wish was to be with Jesus. The family would like to recognize Deana Thomas and Jennifer Stroud for their participation in his final day and thank the staff at the Westmore Senior Living Facility, Harris Downtown, and Community Hospice for being a friend and caregiver this past year to Fr. Allen.Fr. Allen’s parents; his sister, Genevieve Pritchard; his son, Radford Drew; and his nephew, Lloyd Beckham, preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife, Lina Lea Lusk Allen; his daughter, Ann Katherine Allen; his one and only favorite granddaughter, Elena Katherine Allen; his nephew and wife, Gary and Donna Luse; his niece Dana Beckham; his great nephew Brandon Luse; his great niece, Tiffany Upshaw; and his great niece and her husband, Lindsey and Chris Melancon; and numerous cousins in Allentown, near Lufkin.