Thomas Boyd Allen

RINGLING – Funeral services for Thomas “Tom” Boyd Allen will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 20, 2013, at the Ringling First Baptist Church with the Rev. Mike Williams officiating. Interment will be in Ringling Memorial Cemetery . Services are under the care and direction of Alexander Funeral Home of Ringling.

Tom was born on Nov. 6, 1930, in Atlee, Okla., to the late Thomas Floyd and Alma Lucy May (Melton) Allen. He departed this life on Monday, June 17, 2013, in Ardmore at the age of 82.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Judith “Judy” Annette Patty Allen, on Dec. 2, 2001. He also was preceded in death by his parents; six brothers, T.F. Jr., Archie, John, Auby, Alvin and John; and four sisters, Jean, Vara, Dorothy and Icy.

He is survived by three daughters, April Cooper, and her husband, Jim, Ringling, Joni Allen, Dallas, and Leah Simmons, Ardmore; a brother, David Allen, Ringling; five grandchildren, Dylan, Beau, Tena, Jamie and Brent; and eight great-grandchildren.

Raised in Atlee, Tom moved to Ringling with his family at the age of 12. He graduated as the president of his class at Ringling High School and later was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served in the Korean Conflict as a combat engineer and demolition expert. Part of his job was to guard the bridges between Germany and Austria. While serving in the Army, he received the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Occupation Medal (Germany).

He and Judy were married on June 6, 1959, in Ringling. They made their home in Ringling, where he was a rancher and farmer, and they owned and operated the Ringling Lumber Company.

Tom was an avid coin collector and loved doing yard work, both at home and at Judy’s memorial park in downtown Ringling. Judy and Tom enjoyed traveling in the United States and abroad.

One of his greatest passions was church building, a task that took him across the country, from Oklahoma and Texas to Alaska and Washington. A faithful member of the Ringling First Baptist Church, he never missed a day helping build their new church.

Tom Allen was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather who shared his simple, yet profound, rules of life, such as, “Just remember who you are and where you came from and you’ll do all right.” He had an infectious laugh, the sweetest nature and a huge heart, all of which will continue to bring his family joy and comfort as they share memories of this unforgettable, generous and remarkable man they called Daddy and Papa Tom.

Pallbearers will be Jack Wilson, Junior Ogle, Pug Allen, Dan Pennington, Bill Patty, Sam Patty, Audie Roberts and Jim Cooper. Honorary bearers are Marland Vance, Jack Grace and Bill Jobe.

The family will receive visitors from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 19, 2013, at Alexander Funeral Home in Ringling.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to the Southern Oklahoma Church Builders, 2812 Ridgeway St., Ardmore, OK, 73401 or the Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children, 13976 Anthony Lane, Madill, OK, 73446 or online at www.obhc.org/donate designation Madill Home for Girls.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.alexanderfuneralhome.org