Obituary of Dorothy M. Allen

Dorothy Allen is survived by two daughters, Sandra Ridenour and her husband, Joe, of Morgantown, Indiana; and Julie Ballandby and her husband, Richard, of Iowa City; fifteen grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren, and one expectant great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband; a daughter, Linda Richer; a son, Jay Allen; a brother, Virgil Hicks; and her parents. Mrs. Allen was born May 9, 1910, in Mason City, Iowa to Clair W. and Pearl A. Hicks. She graduated from Mason City High School in 1927 and from Mason City Junior College in 1929. She was married on June 23, 1931 to Wallace C. Allen of Mason City. The Allen family lived in Fort Dodge, Iowa, from 1936-1945 and in Creston, Iowa, from 1946-1950, when they returned to Mason City. Dorothy was a member of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), where she served several terms as elder and served as organist for fourteen years. She was organist of Trinity Lutheran Church for ten years before retiring. Mrs. Allen was a member of Matinee Musicale Club; Chapter KX, PEO Sisterhood. She was active in the Christian Women’s Fellowship of her church and in Church Women United. Mrs. Allen taught organ to students from a wide area surrounding Mason City. She was a charter member of the Association of Disciples Musicians, serving four years on the National Planning Council as secretary. In 1962, she received a degree in church music and organ from Drake University, where she studied organ with Dr. Russell P. Saunders. Dorothy was a member of Mu Phi Epsilon, honorary music sorority. Memorials may be made to First Christian Church of Mason City or Zion Lutheran Church of Iowa City.