Kenneth Eugene Allen Sr., 80, peacefully passed away on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at Arkansas Continued Care in Jonesboro, Ark.
He was born on December 26, 1943, to the late John Thomas “JT” Allen and Dorothy Laverne “Pepper” Allen. Kenneth joined the US Army and fulfilled his service in Korea. He worked many years for Shelter Insurance where he later retired. Kenneth was of Baptist faith. He enjoyed going to his kids and grandkids’ ball games. He knew how to talk to people and always had the best stories. People from all over used to come up and tell us they had seen Ken and he had told them a story. That’s how we used to track him down when we were separated from him. We would listen for his voice or wait for someone to tell us they had seen him. He was a storyteller, and we listened. Kenneth was a member of the Sigma Pi at Arkansas State University and a special member of the “Round Table” at Kelley Wyatt’s. Kenneth was a wonderful and loving husband, father, granddad, great-granddad, uncle, brother, cousin, and friend. He will be dearly missed by everyone truly blessed to know him. Ken never met a stranger and if he did, they weren’t for long.
Kenneth is survived by his beautiful wife of fifty-seven plus years, Sarah Rebecca “Becky” Allen; two daughters, Stacey Branscum (Marc), and Melissa Grice (Duane), both of Batesville; seven grandchildren, Zac Branscum (Courtney), Kenneth Allen III, Luc Branscum (Ann Marie), Alex Branscum (Rheanna), Morgan Riley Grice, Jordan Grice, and Payton Grice; three great-grandchildren, Cash Branscum, Jovi Branscum, and Lux Branscum; one brother; Robert Allen of Fifty-six, Ark., and a sister; Carolyn Fielder of Jonesboro Ark., and his faithful dog, Maggie.
Services are entrusted to Willis Funeral Service in Batesville. The visitation will be on Monday, July 29, 2024, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The funeral service, officiated by Pastor Stacey Reed, will be held at Willis Funeral Chapel on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at 2 p.m. Interment will follow at Egner Cemetery. Honored to serve as pallbearers: Zac Branscum, Luc Branscum, Alex Branscum, Duane Grice, Shane Fox, and Gary Keyton. The family would like to recognize the following people as honorary pallbearers: Marc Branscum, Morgan Riley Grice, Jordan Grice, Gerald McWayne, Darrel McWayne, Micheal Duffy McWayne, Paul Strecker, Dr. Lackey Moody, and Keith Cothrine.
