ALLEN, HAROLD A.

Harold Antrim Allen passed away July 21, 2005 at the age of 83 after fighting a courageous battle with cancer. He was born June 10, 1922 in Amity, Ore. to Harold Barnett Allen and Metta Melissa Antrim Allen. His mother died when he was 2½ years old and he was raised on a ranch in Sheridan, Ore. by his grandparents, Harry Elbert “Eb” and Elizabeth Barnett Allen. Dad always said he had the best childhood a boy could ever have. He was surrounded by hard work and the love of several aunts, uncles, and cousins. Dad attended Sheridan High School where he participated in all sports, and was recognized as one of Oregon’s best prep athletes.

After high school graduation, he worked in the logging camps until he enlisted in the Marine Corps in January 1942. He served as a member of Evans F. Carlson’s 2nd Raider Battalion, Company A. Dad was an expert rifleman and pistol sharpshooter. He served in the South and Central Pacific areas where he participated in the raid on Makin Island and later at Guadalcanal on the “long patrol.” He was honorably discharged on Sept. 17, 1945.

Following his discharge, he met and married our mom, Dorothy Irene Dieckman, on Nov. 3, 1945. They lived in Southern California where he attended UCLA and received a geology degree in 1950. In 1951, he began a successful career as a geologist with the Soil Conservation Service in Coeur d’Alene. Later, he was transferred to the Boise office where he eventually served as the Idaho State Geologist. In Boise, our parents raised a family of four children. Our childhood was filled with the wonders of the great outdoors, and dad taught us all to be good stewards of the land, leaving no trace of our journeys. He was an environmentalist long before the term became popular. Dad truly recognized and valued the beauty and pristine wonder of every corner of Idaho, which he called home.

In 1969, our mother died following a long illness. Dad later met a wonderful companion, Patricia Malone Platt, and they married in May 1980. There was no shortage of excitement as the children from the combined families kept them both extremely busy. Unfortunately, their time together was cut short and in December 1981 “Patsy” died. Dad retired in May 1982 after 31 years with the Soil Conservation Service. In retirement he was an avid snow skier, backpacker, hunter and outdoorsman. He was actively involved with his grandchildren and enjoyed many of their after-school activities. Over the past several years, dad spent many hours walking the Oregon Trail and cleaning up debris so others could enjoy such a great landmark.

Dad is survived by his children Raoul, Greg and (wife) Mary), and Cindy Scott, all of Boise, and Marci and Bill Allen of Salem, Ore.; and his grandchildren Chris and (wife) Emily of Portland, Ore., and Sam, Nicholas Scott and Ashley of Boise; and great-grandchildren Liliana, Dylan, Phaedra, and Caleb.

At his wishes, there will be no formal ceremony. In lieu of flowers, dad requested any donations be made to the Nature Conservancy or the Idaho Humane Society. We will catch up with you later dad….just up the trail.