Oliver Craig Allen

Services for Oliver Craig Allen, 94, of Tyler, will be held on Monday, July 20, 2015 at 10:00 AM at Marvin United Methodist Church with Dr. Doug Baker and Rev. Gerry Giles officiating. Gerry Giles will be officiating a graveside service at Spring Hill Cemetery in Paris, Texas on Monday July 20 at 3:00 PM under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Mr. Allen Passed away Wednesday, July 15, 2015 in Tyler. He was born March 14, 1921 in Lamar County to Ellis Aubrey and Mamie England Allen. Mr. Allen was a member of Marvin United Methodist Church. He graduated from Paris High School in 1939, and Paris Junior College in 1941. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree and Masters of Arts degree from East Texas State University (now Texas A&M – Commerce). Oliver served in the Army Air Corps and obtained the rank of Staff Sargent. Oliver was serving in the Philippines in the 19th Bomb Group, 7th Materiel Squadron, at Clark Field when it was bombed by the Japanese on December 8, 1941, just hours after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. As World War II began, Oliver’s squadron covered about half a mile of the front lines in the Philippines. He was captured by the Japanese forces on April 9, 1942. Oliver survived the Bataan Death March and was held at Camp O’Donnell. He then served on a bridge detail repairing the bridge over the river Penaranda, after which he was held at Camp Cabanatuan. In October 1942 he and his fellow Allied prisoners of war traveled on the Totora Maru to Korea, and he was held until the end of World War II in a Japanese prisoner of war camp in Mukden, Manchuria. His camp was liberated by American forces on August 14, 1945. During his captivity, Oliver suffered from scurvy, dysentery, malaria, frostbite, and starvation. Mr. Allen was a member of several Prisoner of War and World War II societies, including the American Ex-Prisoners of War, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Battling Bastards of Bataan. Oliver often talked about his experiences, and has spoken at numerous schools and public forums, including invited talks at Texas A&M University. Having had a strong desire to share his story, he and Mildred wrote Abandoned on Bataan in 2002. Mr. Allen had a long career as a school teacher, much beloved by generations of students, to whom his love of learning was infectious. Oliver was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Clifford Allen, and his daughter Bonnie Cathryn Allen. He is survived by his loving family including his wife of 68 years, Mildred Dougan Allen; sons, Danny Ray Allen and wife Georganne of Tyler and Timothy Craig Allen and wife Fran of League City; grandchildren, Adrienne Leach and husband Chris of Tyler, Andrew Allen of Tyler, Caitlin Allen and Erin Allen of League City. Honorary pallbearers will be The Crusaders Sunday School Class and Oliver’s cousins. Visitation is scheduled from 4:00 – 6:00 PM on Sunday July 19, 2015 at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway, in Tyler; and on Monday July 20 at 4:00 PM at First United Methodist Church, Paris, Texas. If desired, memorials may be made to Marvin United Methodist Church, in memory of Oliver’s love of God; and to Service 2 School (www.service2school.org) in memory of his dedication to and caring for his fellow soldier, and his life-long passion for learning.

Oliver Craig Allen

March 14, 1921 - July 15, 2015