William F. Allen

William F. Allen died of complications from Parkinson’s disease on January 10, 2011 at William Hill Manor surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife, Jane (Steevens); older sister Madeline Dixon; children, Louise Kemprecos, Mark Allen, and Clare Ross and 8 grandchildren. His other sister, Joyce Rayner, predeceased him. He was born in Swansea, South Wales, on March 31, 1927. The son of a potato merchant, he grew up during World War II. At 16, he left home to start an electrical engineering apprenticeship at Rugby Technical College in Rugby, England. He wanted to travel, and his first job was with the Anglo Iranian Oil Company in Agajari, Iran. He then returned to London and worked for 18 months as a salesman for Hunt & Moscrop. His sister, Joyce, was also living in London, and they enjoyed happy times together there. Tired of low pay, he took a job in Kumasi, Ghana, with the West African Engineering Company. In 1952 he took a ship to New York en route to Toronto and was hired by Westinghouse as a salesman. After three years he took a bus from Toronto to San Francisco and transferred to California Westinghouse division, finally achieving his dream of living in sunny California. He met his wife, Jane (Steevens) in San Francisco. She had also emigrated from England through Canada and they had much in common. They lived in Los Angeles until 1966 when he joined Aramco and moved to the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. There they settled for a total of 20 years with three children, including a period of 5 years in Holland and back to California for 18 months. He loved to tell the story of the drive the family made from Los Angeles to Saudi Arabia in 1977. They enjoyed living overseas and visited family regularly in England. William, known to everyone as Bill, continued to work until he was 60 years old, taking one final assignment in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia without his wife for 12 months. He enjoyed working, being around his co-workers and the travel experience. After leaving Tabuk, they moved to Wellesley, Massachusetts where they lived for 20 years. In 2007, they moved to Easton to be near their daughter and moved into William Hill in 2009. Bill enjoyed being around people and in retirement, he volunteered regularly at Children’s Hospital in Boston for 10 years. He helped deliver meals to homebound people on Christmas Day and other holidays, and worked at the church rummage sales. Bill loved being with his family, living overseas, telling stories, sailing, his work as an electrical engineer, and listening to music. He remained a devoted husband throughout his 52 years of marriage. He was kind, patient, good-natured, generous, and gentle. He was well liked in the community and will be missed by those who knew him. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, January 15 at Trinity Cathedral on Goldsborough Street in Easton, MD. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: National Parkinson Foundation, Inc, 1501 NW 9th Avenue, Bob Hope Road, Miami Fl 33136-1494. Funeral arrangements by Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, P.A. in Easton.

William F. Allen

March 31, 1927 - January 10, 2011