Gene Allen was born February 9, 1925 at home in Miami County Kansas to Charles Edward and Stella Ann (Kirts) Allen. He grew up in the Drexel area, attending grade school at the Union School and later graduating from Drexel High School in 1943. Immediately following graduation, Gene was drafted into the US Army. He completed Basic Training at Ft. Hood, where he was assigned to an intelligence group, and later reassigned to infantry. In 1944 he was deployed to Europe and arrived at La Havre, France in January of 1945. Gene saw active duty while taking part in the Battle of the Bulge. From there he was sent to the Corner Pocket, and later discharged on July 19, 1946 at Ft. Sheridan.
After a brief rest following his discharge, Gene went to work at the Drexel Elevator, keeping books and working as Harold Elliott’s office manager. After five years, he decided to move on, and went to work in Kansas City, Missouri for Ralston Purina in the accounting dept. It wasn’t long until he was promoted to Accounting Manager. On June 2, 1956, Gene was united in marriage to Dixie M. Maloney at the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church by Rev. Roy L. Grove. After marriage and while working, Gene took night classes from at the University of Missouri Kansas City and Rock-hurst University. It took 15 years of hard work to earn his degree in Accounting from Rockhurst. He then contin-ued to work in accounting and data processing for 40 more years. Ralston Purina had plans to move Gene’s posi-tion to St. Louis, but Gene preferred to stay in Kansas City, so he began his career with Midway Ford as a Dept. Manager and Data Processing Manager. After retirement in 1987, he and Dixie moved back to Drexel. Gene en-joyed his work, bookkeeping and data processing, but he also enjoyed golf and square dancing.
In 2012 Gene was honored to have the opportunity to fly with fellow veterans on a Honor Flight to Washington, D. C. He was escorted on his two day trip by a high school senior from LeRoy, KS. Gene was a lifetime member of the Drexel First Baptist Church, where he served as treasurer for many years. He was a member of the Drexel Lions Club, Drexel VFW, he was a Past-Master of the Coldwater Masonic Lodge #485, a member of the Ariat Shrine, life-time member of the Management of Accountants Association, and he was a Past-President of the Cross Roads Credit Union in Kansas City, MO.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents, brother Bill Allen, and sister-in-law Doris Allen. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Dixie Allen of the home in Drexel, MO., sister Ruth Elaine Edwards, and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great-nieces, and great-great-nephews. He will be sadly missed by his loving
family and by his many friends.
