Marion Allen

Marion Allen, 101 years old, passed away in Albuquerque, NM on November 9, 2025. He was born April 28, 1924, to Arthur and Elizabeth (Schnell) Allen and grew up in a small Kansas railroad hub town.

He was a natural storyteller. He loved to recount his many experiences during a century of living: outdoor adventures with family and friends, a stint in the Navy during the Second World War, Kansas State student days, military instructor, Air Force flight school, aircraft commander, retirement travels... he had quite a repertoire to draw upon for storytelling. His children fondly recall listening to his stories or his readings from various books including children's books and fairy tales, novels, poetry, and the bible. He had a great singing voice too, often accompanying himself with a chromatic harmonica.

He met his wife of 65 years in San Antonio, TX early in his career as an Air Force pilot. It was during a posting to Albuquerque in the early 1950s that the young couple discovered the Land of Enchantment. Two decades of crisscrossing the country, tours in Southeast Asia, military politics, and five children later, Major Allen and his wife Joan retired to New Mexico in the early 1970s. They made a home in rural New Mexico off the grid- a quiet setting away from the city - with many adventures lying ahead as the kids grew up and started families of their own.

Joan passed away in 2017.

Thanks in part to his steady disposition and a remarkable constitution, Marion was physically active, mentally sharp, and remained curious about the world around him to within weeks of his own passing.

He is survived by his children, Gray (Nancy), Bruce (Mary), Sarah (Pete), Lydia (Dan), and Peter (June); fourteen grandchildren, John W., Brenna, Jessica, Miranda, Daniel, Tasha, Laura, John R., Patrick, Levi, Savanna, Skye, Luke, and Corey; as well as ten great-grandchildren.