John Burton Allen of Lucas, Texas passed away on March 25, 2021 at the age of 81. He was born on March 21, 1940 to Clarence Burton Allen and Juanita Victoria (Meade) Allen in Detroit, Michigan.
John attended Redford High School in Michigan. He later attended the University of Michigan where he received a BSE in Physics and an MS in Mathematics. After graduating, he was employed at North American Aviation before moving to Georgia where he was employed at the Lockheed-Georgia Research Center in Marietta, Georgia in 1965. While at Lockheed, he attended the Georgia Institute of Georgia earning both an MS and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering specializing in electro-optical sensors, digital and optical processing, and statistical detection theory. In 1971, he became employed at Texas Instruments later becoming Raytheon Corporation. His inventive ideas were patented by the company, and he received many awards of recognition for these patents.
John enjoyed growing beautiful flowers. As a teenager in Michigan, he grew dahlias, competed in dahlia bloom competitions and won many first-place awards. In Texas, he switched to roses, joining the Dallas Chapter of the American Rose Society where he competed in many area rose shows and competitions. He won 22 first place prizes in many area rose shows. He served two terms as President of the Dallas Rose Society. He received the Rose Society Bronze Medal for Outstanding Service and was a Master Consulting Rosarian for the rose society. He served as event chairman for Dallas Rose Shows and also for National American Rose Society Show event when it was held in Dallas.
He met his wife Ann Kirkland in 1965 when they both were new to Lockheed-Georgia. They were married on May 14, 1966 in Sandy Springs, Georgia and enjoyed 55 years of marriage. They have one son, Steven Burton Allen, a pediatrician.
John is survived by his wife, Ann Allen of Lucas, Texas; son, Steven Burton Allen and wife, Sarah Allen; 3 grandchildren, Amy, David and Ryan, all of Wichita, Kansas; and his cousins, Marilyn Bond Neimczak, Douglas Bond and David Bond of Michigan and their families.
Memorial donations can be made to American Rose Society or Parkinson's Foundation.
A “come and go” visitation will be held on Thursday, April 1, 2021 from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home. Only a limited number of guests will be allowed to enter the funeral home facility at any one time to maintain social distancing. The family prefers masks be worn at all times for the services.
In support of our local, state, and federal govt including CDC directives and to protect the physical health, safety and well-being of our community, only a limited number of 150 guests will be allowed to attend the Funeral Service.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, April 2, 2021 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home Chapel, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas. The service will also be live streamed at TJMfuneral.com on John’s obituary page by clicking on the following link: https://celebrationoflife.tv/blog/john-burton-allen. After the service, the recorded live stream will be available for viewing at the same link location.
However, when the maximum number of guests are reached, those who would like to honor John and show their support to his family may remain at the funeral home in your vehicle, where you can watch the live streamed service on your personal device (laptop, tablet or smartphone).
Following the funeral service, a procession will make its way to Ridgeview Memorial Park for a committal service where all are invited to attend the committal service maintaining social distancing or you may remain in your vehicle. You will be able to listen to the service through speakers set up at the gravesite.