Barbara Jane Allen

Private graveside services for Barbara Jane “B.J.” Hedrick Harrison Allen, 96, Lawrence, will be Saturday. Mrs. Allen died Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008, at Brandon Woods at Alvamar.She was born July 13, 1912, in Kansas City, Mo., the daughter of Arly Luther and Geraldine German Hedrick. Her father died in World War I, and she was later adopted by her stepfather, John W. Harrison. She graduated from Southwest High School in 1929. She attended Goucher College in Maryland for a year and then graduated with a degree in English from Kansas University in 1933.Mrs. Allen was active in the Lawrence PTA for 18 years. She served on the boards of the Boys and Girls Club and the Watkins Community Museum of History, and on the Lawrence Planning Commission. She was an elder at the First Presbyterian Church and had trained to be a CASA volunteer. She was also a member of Tennola Club, Kappa Alpha Theta social sorority, Amigas, Republican Women and numerous bridge clubs. She married Harold Ewing Allen on Nov. 6, 1937, in Kansas City, Mo. He was a printer of scientific journals and the founder of Allen Press. He preceded her in death on May 26, 1987. Mrs. Allen was also preceded in death by a daughter, Elaine Forman, on Feb. 22, 1988.Survivors include two sons, Arly Harrison Allen and Gordon “Rand” Allen, Lawrence; four daughters, Dede Dresser and Barbara Wasson, both of Lawrence, and Diane Bannen and Lenore Allen, both of Texas; a half-sister, Joanne Karlson, of California; 19 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials to the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence or First Presbyterian Church, sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary.Online condolences may be sent to warrenmcelwain .com, subject: Allen.