Charles “Charlie” E. Allen passed away peacefully in his home on October 19. Beloved husband of Jean C. Allen for 66 years; father of four children: Donna Allen, Michael Allen, Robert Allen, and Lisa Stovall; grandfather of five grandchildren: Matthew Stovall, Justin Allen, Megan Stovall, Timothy Allen, and Ryan Allen. Brother of Catherine Gottschalk and Harris Allen. Also survived by 25 nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by two sisters, Dorothy Hyatt, and Margaret Cormack; four brothers-in-law: Charles Hyatt, John Nugent, Paul Nugent, Dr. Harry Bogart; and three sister-in-laws: Bette Bogart, Kathleen Allen, and Louise Nugent.
Husband, father, Cub Scout leader, grandfather, Air Force staff sergeant, engineer, member of the American Legion, photographer, WSSC Retiree Committee member, usher at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. While his children were growing up, they went camping at Lake Sherando, and after camping days ended when their fourth child was born, they vacationed every summer in Ocean City, MD, with the Hyatt family. He had a "boat," and the family would spend much of their childhood and adulthood cruising on the South and Severn River in Annapolis, MD.
He began his career working at a grocery store with his father, Frank, in the produce department, then enlisted in the U.S. Airforce and served at Sampson AFB, NY, during the Korean War. He met his wife Jean on a blind date. She was working with his sister Dorothy Hyatt at Acacia Insurance Co. He had beautiful handwriting, and the WSSC hired him as a draftsman. He was soon promoted to design engineer for the water and sewer department.
He retired from the Washington Suburban Sanity Commission in 1981. In fact, he was retired longer than he worked!
He enjoyed helping his children with home improvement projects; i.e., building a screened-in porch and finishing an unfinished basement for his daughter Lisa and son-in-law Jim; building decks for his sons, Bob and Mike, and a fish pond for his son Michael and his family in his home in Reisterstown, MD. His carpentry skills were self-taught, and he built a recreation room in their Beltsville home.
His love of gardening began as a child, swimming, and fishing in his Uncle Jim Allen's farm pond near Mitchellville, MD. Eventually, the farm was sold for a housing development. The City of Bowie would preserve the pond as a historical landmark, incorporating it into what became "Allen Pond Park." Charlie began working on his own backyard and built two landscaped fish ponds filled with koi, flowers, and goldfish along with a gazebo named "Allen Pond II." Also, Charlie designed an "unofficial park" across the street named "Allen Park, circa 2003." His good friend Jack of Holland Gardens designed an artful sign after the September 2001 tornado. Their street, Brandon Lane, took a direct impact.
He also was a wedding photographer, Charles E. Allen Wedding Photography. He photographed hundreds of weddings. Charlie lived every moment he was on this earth. His grandson Matt had taken him to an Orioles game just weeks’ prior to his death.
The Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on Oct. 26. Interment Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Silver Spring, MD. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the foundation theteamsteve.com and consider organ donation.