A joint ceremony and celebration for Donald Ray Allen, 81, and Gisele Allen, 83, both of Madison, AL will be held at 9-11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29th at Criswell Funeral Home in Ada. Rev. Harold Ware will officiate. Burial will follow at Rosedale Cemetery with the U. S. Army Honor Guard performing military honors for Mr. Allen.
Donald Ray Allen (Papa) of Madison, AL passed away on Aug 2, 2017 in Huntsville, AL. Mr. Allen was born on May 19, 1936 in Ada, OK to Richard Stanford Allen and Ruth Elizabeth Moore. Following the death of his parents at a young age, he was raised by his paternal grandmother, Mae Allen, and his father’s family.
Mr. Allen enlisted in the U.S. Army at Oklahoma City, OK on May 20, 1953 and served on active duty until May 1, 1956. While stationed in France he met the love of his life, Gigi, and they were married in Orleans, France in 1955. He served in the Army National Guard until Feb. 1961 and attained the rank of SP3 in the Quartermaster Corp., and then Unit Supply NCO with the Army European Command in Germany. In Feb., 1961 he reverted to active duty as an SP5, was stationed at Great Lakes Naval Training Ctr, IL., and attained the rank of SP7 (E7) in March 1966. In Feb., 1968 he was promoted to Warrant Officer Unit Supply Technician and served tours in Vietnam from June 1968 to May 1969 and again from Nov. 1970 to Nov. 1971. He retired as a Chief Warrant Officer3 on March 31, 1978 in Ft. Ord, CA. with nearly 25 years of service, nine years overseas. During this time he was awarded two Bronze Star medals for meritorious service, the Vietnam Service medal, the Republic of Vietnam campaign medal, the Republic of Vietnam gallantry cross unit citation, three Army commendation medals, the meritorious service medal, two national defense medals, two good conduct awards, and a marksman medal.
Mr. Allen was then employed as a DOD Civilian stationed at Fort Ord, CA., Germany, Texas. His wife, Gigi, was his partner throughout his military career and they moved to Madison, AL in 1996 where they concluded his 20 year civil service career at Redstone Arsenal’s US Army Material Command in Huntsville.
He was survived by his loving wife of 61+ years, Gisele Louie Allen, for 12 days. He is survived by his daughter, Linda Hawk (Allen) & John R. Hawk III of FL, and his son, Philip Allen & Diane Allen of CA., grandchildren Jennifer Erin Cassidy (Allen), Tara Renee Hawk (Allen), Theresa Marie Wiseman (Allen), John R. Hawk IV, Elizebeth Louie Allen; 6 great-grandchildren; and his nephews, Stacey and Ricky Allen and Billy & Cathy Hunter.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Brenda Gooding (Allen) and nephew Steven, his brother Connie Allen.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be sent to Southern Care Hospice’s Grace Fund, 200 Westside Square, Suite# 440, Huntsville, AL 35801 or Always There, 820B Franklin St. SE, Huntsville, AL 35801.
His family will forever be grateful for the staff, nurses and caregivers that provided their love, compassion, prayers and guidance.
Criswell Funeral Home, Ada
