Death of Reverend Richard Allen, Former Missionary to the Philippines
1926 – 2010
Word has been received of
the passing of Robert R. Allen on June 20, 2010. Reverend Allen was born
February 15, 1926, in Corning, Iowa. After graduating in 1944, he entered
the V5Navy Program at the University of Dubuque, Iowa, being honorably
discharged in June 1946. In September 1947, he met Charlotte Spainhower,
a Farragut, Iowa, school teacher. In a matter of months they were engaged
to be married and committed to serving in the ministry of the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ).
The wedding took place on
May 22, 1948, and following a short honeymoon, the couple went to Enid,
Oklahoma, where he enrolled as a student at Phillips University, graduating
with a BA degree in 1951. Three years later he received a Master of
Divinity Degree from Phillips Theological Seminary.
In 1962, following
ministries in Kansas and Missouri, the United Christian Missionary Society of
the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) sent Robert and Charlotte to the
United Church of Christ in The Philippines where Reverend Allen’s first
assignment was as a conference missionary with the Northwest Luzon
Conference. Most of his time was given to the setting up of lay ministry
institutes; he also taught systematic theology at Northern Christian College
and was chair of the board of the Apayao Christian Academy in Kabugao.
The Allens concluded their missionary service in 1967.
Reverend Allen was
preceded in death by his parents and brother, Howard. Survivors include
his wife and three sons, David, Jon, and Stephen. The family requests
memorial donations to the Raymore Christian Church, P. O. Box 680, Raymore, MO.
64083; the Robert and Charlotte Allen Endowed Scholarship at Phillips
Theological Seminary, 910 N. Mingo Road, Tulsa, OK. 74116; or Tall Oaks
Conference Center, 12797 189th St., Linwood, KS. 66052.
Messages of condolence may be sent to Charlotte at 1506 West Stone Blvd.,
Raymore, MO. 64083-9110.