Honorary warbird passes away

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Wesley Wright
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  A Minot Air Force Base honorary commander passed away Oct. 8 in a Minot hospital. 

Richard Allen, 5th Medical Group honorary commander, served in his position for approximately seven years. He was 69 years old. 

"It's a great loss to Team Minot," said Col. Roosevelt Allen, 5th MDG commander. "He was a pillar in the community." 

Mr. Allen fulfilled an important role at Minot AFB, with none more important than his key role in lobbying to have Minot taken off the Base Realignment and Closure list.

"Minot had come out on the list and obviously, the economic impact on Minot would have been devastating," said Colonel Allen. "And as one of his many wonderful contributions to this base, he lobbied to have Minot taken off the list and it eventually was."

According to Colonel Allen, Mr. Allen loved the people of Minot AFB and looked to help wherever he could.

"He took his position extremely seriously," Colonel Allen said. "Whenever there was an opportunity for him to come out and interact with people here at the base, he truly looked forward to that. He also looked forward to getting me (the 5th MDG commander) involved in the local community." 

Mr. Allen was born Sept. 12, 1938, the son of Hugh and Sara (Sherwood) Allen, in Hornell, N.Y. He was raised and educated in Hornell and graduated from Hornell High School in 1956. He then attended Alfred State Technical School in Alfred, N.Y., where he received his degree in Business Management.

Mr. Allen married Judith Loomis June 21, 1958, in Hornell. They made their home in the upstate New York area, where he had managed various businesses and a medical clinic. In 1976, they moved to Glendive, Mont., where he managed the Rural Health Initiative Program, which was a governmental program. In 1985, they moved to Minot, where he was employed by Great Plains Supply Co. He continued to work there until 1991, when together, he and Judi purchased Personnel Services. In 1998, he started Profiles of the Northern Plains, a human resource consulting firm.

The honorary commander also served as the Disaster Coordinator for the Northern Plains Conference of the United Church of Christ, and made two recent trips to New Orleans for the Katrina disaster relief.

He was an active member of Congregational United Church of Christ, Minot, where he served as a deacon, a moderator for the church council and sang in the choir. He served as chairman of the Minot Area Chamber of Commerce, and had been a chamber ambassador since 1991. He also was actively involved as a liaison to the Minot Air Force Base for base retention and had served on several non-profit boards in Minot. 

"He was very involved in the local community," said Colonel Allen. "And he loved the diversity Minot AFB brought to the city of Minot."

He was an avid reader and gardener, and delighted in playing with his grandsons. He was a firm believer in equality and justice for all people. He supported these beliefs through his generous acts of volunteerism. Throughout the years he served on numerous non-profit boards. He also enjoyed staying informed with current events going on in the world.

His loving family includes: wife of 49 years, Judi, Minot; son and daughter-in-law, Chuck and Tracey Allen, Bismarck; daughter, Kim Allen Padilla, Minot; grandsons, Alex and Forrest Allen, Bismarck; sisters, Cindy (Jim) Booth, Hornell, and Suzy (Mike) Palmesano, Hornell; brother-in-law, Roger Loomis, Honeoye, N.Y.; and several nieces and nephews.
Mr. Allen was preceded in death by his parents; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, the Rev. Gordon and Mae Loomis. 

A funeral will be held for Mr. Allen beginning at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 12. at the Congregational United Church of Christ in Minot.

Visitation will be held at noon Oct. 11 at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home in Minot.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Congregational United Church of Christ in Minot, or to the Northern Plains Conference for Disaster Relief. 

"He will be sorely missed," Colonel Allen said. "We're very grateful for everything he did for us. Our hearts and prayers are with his family and friends."