Mr. Allen was born Oct. 11, 1919, in Garnett, the son of Laurence Odell and Lillie Bell (Hart) Allen. He attended Garnett public schools and graduated from Garnett High School in 1937.

Mr. Allen worked at various service stations after graduation while serving in the Army Cadets from 1937 to 1938. He was a body and fender man for Stith Chevrolet, Garnett, from 1939 to 1943. He became a substitute mail carrier in 1942. In 1943, he enlisted in the Army and trained as a B-17 bombardier and gunman until his discharge in 1945. He owned his own body shop until 1949, when he started working as a carrier at the Garnett post office. He delivered mail in East Garnett until 1971 when he was transferred to another route. He retired in 1982 after 29 years of service.

He was a member of First Christian Church, Garnett.

He married Ruth Jones on April 14, 1946, in McCune. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include two sons, Charles and Robert L., both of Garnett; a daughter, Phyllis James, Lawrence; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

A daughter, Malissa Allen, died earlier.

The family will receive friends from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel, Garnett.

The family suggests memorials to the church building fund, sent in care of the funeral home, 219 S. Oak, P.O. Box 408, Garnett 66032.