Individual Details

Thurman Leon Allen December 2, 1919 - March 1, 2012 Thurman Leon Allen (Al) was born on December 2, 1919 in Gilmer, Texas, to J.T. and Iva Allen. He was raised on the family farm and attended school in a one room school house during the primary grades. Thurman graduated from Gilmer High School in 1939 and was accepted to Texas A&M. Unfortunately, due to the depressed economy of the time, he had to change his plans and attended business college in Dallas. Upon graduation, he joined the Army Air Force and served until the end of WWII. He was sent to airplane mechanic schools from New York to Oregon, learning the maintenance and repair of all electrical and ignition systems on trainer, bomber, and transport aircraft. His final transfer was to Minter Field. Thurman married his childhood sweetheart, Ruby Carlisle, and they settled in Bakersfield at the end of the war. Their marriage lasted 57 years until her death in 1999. During that time, they raised three daughters. Thurman worked in the oil and gas industry for thirty years. He started with Mobil Oil and retired as a manager for Mohawk. He was a member of the American Legion and the First Presbyterian Church. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and one brother. He is survived by his daughters; Gail Morrow of Sacramento, Sue Collier and husband Mike, Lynn Valos and husband Tom, and grandchildren Greg VanDiest, Chris Morrow, Michelle Morrow, Sean Collier, Grant Collier, Alexis Valos and George Valos and six great-grandchildren. Dad was a kind, gentle soul who loved family, friends and neighbors. He enjoyed his home, garden and fishing at every opportunity. He liked trips to the beach and Las Vegas. He read the newspaper from cover with maps and encyclopedias so he could understand the changing geographical and political issues of the world. Above all, he loved his country and was a true member of the "Greatest Generation". Graveside services are scheduled for Thursday March 8th, at 1:00pm at Hillcrest Memorial Park & Mortuary. www.bakersfield.com/obits
Published in Bakersfield Californian on March 7, 2012

Birth	2 Dec 1919	Gilmer, Upshur County, Texas
Death	1 Mar 2012
Burial		Hillcrest Memorial Park & Mortuary, Bakersfield, Kern County, California

Spouse	Ruby Jim Carlisle (1921 - 1999)
Child	Living
Child	Living
Child	Living

Father	John Tinital Allen (1895 - 1977)
Mother	Iva Lee Smith (1899 - 1997)
Sibling	Ann Marie Allen (1918 - 2004)
Sibling	Emma Doris Allen (1921 - 1996)
Sibling	Harold Evon "Shy" Allen (1924 - 2002)