Henry "Hank" Whitney Allen

Hank Allen

09/07/1919 —01/24/2016

Henry "Hank" Whitney Allen, age 96, passed away on January 24, 2016 in Gunnsion, Utah, after a short illness. Hank was born on September 7, 1919 in Freeport, Maine, to Leonard and Marion Goldrup Allen. Upon his graduation from Freeport High School in 1936, Hank worked for LL Bean as a mail order clerk and retail salesman while saving money for college. He attended the University of Maine for two years where he studied civil engineering, played baseball and was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

In June, 1942, Hank enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served as a navigator on the B-24 Liberator Bombers "Miss Minnie" and "Miss Minnie II". As a member of the 392 ^nd Heavy Bombardment Group, 8 ^th Air Force, he flew 27 sorties out of Wendling, England until he was discharged in December 1945 attaining the rank of captain, being awarded the Air Medal. Hank married Lillian "Lil" Cora Sylvester of Durham in January, 1944.

After the war, Hank pursued his interest in geology receiving his bachelor’s (1948) and master’s degrees (1949) from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He loved teaching. Hank was an instructor at Wellesley College (1952-55) and then assistant professor at the University of Maine (1955-1957).

In 1957, Hank joined Dragon Cement, later Martin Marietta, in Thomaston, Maine as geologist/chief chemist. He was promoted to chief staff geologist, Martin Marietta Corporate, working out of several facilities including Martinsburg, WV, Catonsville, MD. and Bethesda, MD. In that position Hank was instrumental in finding limestone deposits for the construction of two new cement plants. In 1981, Martin Marietta named a quarry in Leamington, UT, The Hank W. Allen Quarry.

In 1980, Hank and Lil retired to Conway, Arkansas to be closer to their family. In recent years he has lived with his son, Bruce and wife, Kathy and son, Dick in Richfield, Utah until his passing.

Hank was very proud to have served for his county in World War II. Until 1973, he served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel He was an avid golfer well into his 80’s. As president of the Rockland Golf Club, Rockland, ME, he was instrumental in making the course an 18 hole facility.

Hank is predeceased by Lil, his wife of 49 years. He is survived by children, Joyce A. (John) Pepin, Lake Toxaway, NC; Dick W. Allen, and Bruce H. (Kathy) Allen, both of Richfield, UT; and Jill A. Reed, Geneva, IL;7 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are brother, Nathan Allen and sister, Jane Burnham of Freeport, ME.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 20, 2016 at the Sylvester Family Cemetery, Durham, Maine. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti. Online guestbook at www.maglebymortuary.com