Walter Elmo Allen

Walter Elmo Allen was born on June 2, 1945 in Nocona, Montague County, Texas to Walter Lee Allen and Millie Mae (Reed) Allen. He was the baby of the family with older brother Weldon Lynn Allen and his sister Sue XXX Allen. He returned to Heaven with Honors on Friday September 9 th , 2022 in Oklahoma City at the age of 77 years. He is survived by his wife Florence Elizabeth Allen, and her five children and their families. In his early years he enjoyed being an urchin on the mean streets of Pauls Valley (his words not mine) and became fast friends with many people who were instrumental in his upbringing making a lifelong impact on him. While in High School, he enjoyed baseball, football and track and even held the Oklahoma State Record for long jump at 21’ 4”. After graduating high school, he joined the Navy at 18 years of age. He went to Great Lakes, Illinois for boot camp. After completion of boot camp, he requested and was granted permission to join his older brother who was stationed at Edwards Air Force Base in California. After serving there a short time, he fell in love with flying. In pursuit of that passion, he transferred to the Marine Corps and was stationed at Canton Island in the South Pacific halfway between Fiji and Hawaii. While there he refueled planes going to Vietnam and spent any free time scuba diving and working on his tan using hydraulic fluid eventually becoming a “very bronze Adonis.” He was then sent to Vietnam in 1965 where he was assigned to be the gunner in a helicopter crew. Their primary purpose was to retrieve wounded soldiers from the battlefield and it was Walter’s responsibility to protect the helicopter and clear any danger in the landing zone. Soldiers called them Angels. After flying in helicopters he was then transferred to crew of a P2V reconnaissance plane crew. On one mission they tried to beat the Russians to one of their satellites that fell into the ocean. When he came home from Vietnam he became a Sheriff’s Deputy in Pauls Valley and quickly learned he needed a job with more income. He then became an electrician at Tinker Air Force Base in Midwest City, Oklahoma. He worked there for the next 27 years working his way up to Aircraft Inspector when he retired for the FIRST time at the age 47. In conjunction with his civilian job, he served in the Army reserve where he became the youngest Sergeant Major in the Army. For those keeping track, yes, he served in the Navy, Marines and Army for over 30 years. He met the love of his life, Florence Elizabeth Adams (everyone calls her Floss) in 1990. They met at Church and when she introduced herself she asked if he was investigating the Church? He said “I ain’t investigating nothing I’m just going to Church.” After a 2 year courtship, they were married in the Dallas, Texas Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on May 9, 1992 for time and all eternity. Thus began their adventure together. Shortly after their marriage, he retired from military service and his civilian job at Tinker Air Force base. That was his 2 nd retirement. He spent the next 8 years taking care of his new mother in law, Ruth Gammill, until her death in April 2001. He took her and his new bride on many trips in pursuit of genealogy and sight-seeing including Tennesse (twice), San Antonio, Texas, Corpus Christi, Texas, Layton, Utah, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Grand Junction, Colorado and the Grand Canyon. Ruth loved travelling in his van because it was so comfortable for her. After Ruth’s passing, he became a Park Ranger at the Chickasaw National Recreation Area in Sulphur, Oklahoma. He loved presenting stories to children on wildlife and native American history from the area. He also enjoyed taking care of the animals in the visitor center especially the owls and said many times that he couldn’t believe he was getting paid to do something he would do for free. He retired from being a Park Ranger in 2009 after 8 years of service. His 3 rd and final retirement. Dell Customer Communication - Confidential After building their dream home on their piece of heaven, he bought his first tractor – a 1952 8N Ford. Thus started his love affair with tractors and anything to do with tractors. He and one of his friends took every bolt off the Ford tractor and hand painted every single piece so it looked like it just rolled off the factory floor. He ended up owning 4 tractors and participated in the annual tractor show for many years bringing him great enjoyment. In his later years, he had many friendships and relished every visit from them and his family – especially their grand-children and great-grandchildren. He shook everybody’s hand when he met them and by the time they left they usually got a hug. Walter will be remembered for his service, bravery, humor and honesty. In closing, I leave you with a few “Walter-isms” – This beats anything I every helt, felt or smelt He always liked his glass to be “plumb full” If he couldn’t remember the name of something it was a HollyWah or a Mucato Walter, we treasured our time with you thanks for your impact on our lives – well done. Til we meet again.

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Walter Elmo Allen

June 2, 1945 - September 9, 2022