Born May 15, 1924, in Long Beach, Calif., Allen spent his childhood in Chuquicamata, Chile. He came to Princeton from Exeter.
After graduating with honors with a degree in mechanical engineering, Allen joined Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, where he worked until 1987 as a senior project engineer.
In addition to his career, Allen devoted time to community service, including as the first president of the Florida chapter of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), as a member of the board of directors for the Florida Alliance on Mental Illness (FAMI), and in many church activities. He enjoyed skiing, photography, traveling, and time with his family, especially in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains.
Allen is survived by his wife of 71 years, Betsey; five children including Karen Hodges Hass ’74; 11 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; and a sister, Joyce Hodges.