John Lewis Allen

Mr. John Lewis Allen, 86, of Winston-Salem, passed away Sunday, November 9, 2008 at Forsyth Medical Center. He was born December 5, 1921 in Forsyth County to the late Charles D. and Florence Merritt Allen. He served in the U.S. Army Company K 18th Infantry Division during World War II, receiving a Purple Heart. Mr. Allen was a member of Beck's Baptist Church for 61 years, serving in various capacities, including Deacon, Chairman of the Deacons and President of the Baptist Brotherhood. He was a member of the Old Town Masonic Lodge # 751, 32nd Degree Scottish Rites and an Oasis Shriner. Mr. Allen retired from the U.S. Postal Service and was past president of the North Carolina Rural Letter Carriers. He was preceded in death by his brother, Porter Gray Allen. Surviving are his loving wife of 67 years, Opal Gordon Allen; one daughter, Penny Rowe (husband, David) of Oak Ridge; two sons, Hugh Allen (wife, Julie) of Washington, DC and Mark Gordon Allen (special friend, Dorothy Clare Massalski), of Tucson, AZ; five grandchildren; seven great grandchildren and two sisters, Ellen Brantley and Pat Wilson, both of Winston-Salem. A funeral service will be held at 2:30 pm Wednesday, November 12, 2008 at Becks Baptist Church with Dr. Karl Minor and Dr. Ray Hamilton officiating. Burial will follow at Forsyth Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 1:00-2:30 pm Wednesday at the church.

Cemetery:
Forsyth Memorial Park

Visitation:
01:00pm - 02:30pm on November 12, 2008 at Becks Baptist Church

Service:
Service at 02:30pm on November 12, 2008 at Becks Baptist Church