Obituaries : Richard Allen; Retired Naval Base Welder

Richard Bennett Allen, a retired structural steel welder, died Thursday at St. John’s Regional Medical Center. He was 85.

Allen was born on Aug. 16, 1914, in Wilmington. Until the age of 12 he traveled with his parents and attended schools in Arizona and California. After moving to Oxnard in 1926, he went on to graduate from Wilson Junior High School and attended Oxnard High School.

Allen began working as a railroad inspector and ticket taker at a site that is now Port Hueneme naval base.

He met Margaret Crowley, and they married on Jan. 8, 1936.

From 1943 to 1946 he served in the California National Guard and became a first sergeant.

Allen began working for the Naval Construction Battalion Center at Port Hueneme in 1946 as a structural steel welder. In 1976, after 30 years at the base, he retired.

Their son, Charles Allen of Oxnard, said that his parents’ travels took them to Hawaii, Ireland, Alaska and Ensenada, Mexico.

Allen was in the Elks for 46 years. He was also a Golden Eagle--a 50-year lifetime member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

He was active in Elks bowling tournaments and had led his chapter to county and state championships from 1952 to 1963. He also enjoyed golfing.

In addition to his wife and son, Allen is survived by daughters Harriett Bateman of Grants Pass, Ore., and Margaret Ann Parsley of Gamoka, Alaska; a sister, Sara Shepherd of Arroyo Grande; 13 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart Assn. of Ventura County, the Special Olympics of Ventura County, or the Elks Endowment Fund.

Visitation will be today from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Payton Mortuary Chapel in Oxnard.

Services are scheduled at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Payton Mortuary Chapel with Jack Phillips, Howard Knutson and Paul Diffenderffer officiating.

Burial will follow at the Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Payton Mortuary in Oxnard.