Richard "Dick" W. Allen, age 86, of Traverse City, formerly of Owosso, passed away December 27, 2019 at Oliver Woods Retirement Village in Owosso.
Richard was born on August 8, 1933, to parents Elton J. and Lora (Harris) Allen at Hurley Hospital in Flint, MI.
Richard served his country as a machinist mate third class petty officer (E4) with the United States Navy during the Korean War from 1951 to 1954 aboard the aircraft carriers USS Mendora and USS Midway.
Richard married Shirley Langdon on November 6, 1954 and raised three daughters, Shirley passed away in 2009 he then married Linda Springer in 2014 and she passed away in 2016.
Richard was employed by the Ann Arbor Railroad for 26 years until their closing and Conrail for 14 years retiring on his 62nd birthday in 1995.
Richard was a life member of the VFW, was a post commander at the Owosso Post 9455, Post Commander and Honor Guard of the Traverse City Post 2780.
He was a life member and 32nd degree of the Masons and a member of the Shriners, Elks and Eagles. He was a member of the First Christian Church in Traverse City.
Richards hobbies included many years of traveling the USA motorcycling with Shirley, playing golf, fishing, reading, and walking. He spent his winters in Apache Junction, AZ.
Richard is survived by daughters; Shelley (Fred) Shimunec, Nadine Forsythe, 2 grandsons; Travis and Troy Whitman and their wives, 5 great-grandchildren; brother Duane Allen and wife Jeannine, 4 step-daughters and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, both wives and daughter Nanette.
Funeral services will be held at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home on Thursday, January 2, 2020 at 11:00 am with a visitation from 9:00 – 11:00 am. Richard will be laid to rest at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Owosso at a later date.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be directed to the VFW National Home for Children, 3573 S. Waverly Road, Eaton Rapids, MI 48827 or Shriners, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607.
The family would like to sincerely thank the staff at Oliver Woods Building 2 in Owosso and Heart to Heart Hospice both for their outstanding and compassionate care they provided to Richard.