Robert Searcy "Pops" Allen Jr., age 97, of Gordo, AL passed away June 26, 2021 at Hospice of West Alabama . Funeral services will be 11:00 am Wednesday, June 30, 2021 at Skelton Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jerry Robbins officiating. Burial will follow in Mitchell Cemetery with Skelton Funeral Home of Reform directing. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the funeral home.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Rose Marie Allen; son, Jerry Wayne Allen; his parents and siblings, Curtis Allen, Hubert Allen, Cecil Allen, Loreen Bailey, Gladys Duren, Bessie Mae Lancaster and Annie Bounds.
Survivors include his wife, Betsy Allen; his children, Bob Allen (Debbie), Sandy Carlisle, Deborah Jackson (Wendell) and Mike Allen (Kristi); fifteen grandchildren; Brandi Allen (Jerry), Cody Allen (Amanda), Kristin Allen, Katherine Jones (Wesley), Blake Jackson (Savannah), Brandon Jackson (Katie), Cole Allen, Kate Allen, Kaeleigh Gray (Richard), Nikki Vice, Justin Allen (Kami), Jeremy Allen (Minda), Jessica Allen (Scott), Heather Hoffman (Wes) and Scott Pruitt (Krista); thirteen great-grandchildren, Hudson Allen, Noah Allen, Alex Jones, Savannah Jones, Bryant Jackson, Benjamin "Ben" Jackson, Kohlton Gray, Justin Allen Jr., Lilyan Allen, Cali Allen, Axel Allen, Major Pruitt and Daniel Sterling; special baby, Sugarplum and two nephews, Emmett Allen and Charlie Allen; great-nephew, Jimmy Allen and a very special friend, Cindy Sullivan
Mr. Allen was born May 7, 1924 in Pioneer Logging Camp in the Benevola Community of Pickens County, Alabama to the late Robert S. Allen Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Burkhalter Allen. He was a member of Forest Baptist Church, a graduate of Gordo High School where he played baseball and football and attended the University of Alabama where he received a degree in land surveying. He was a retired employee of Gulf States Paper (Westervelt) and a United States Navy veteran of World War II. An avid turkey hunter, he was named one of the top 10 turkey hunters in the State of Alabama. He guided turkey hunts at Westervelt Lodge until his early 90's and was one of the founders of Mitchell Bluff Hunting Club.
When Pop was returning from WWII, he came home on the USS Ocelot ship and only had a borrowed pair of pants because his pants were torn during battle, his Navy uniform shirt, one shoe and a sea bag was all he had on his journey home. He was determined to get home to see his family by Christmas. He took a train from San Diego, California to Louisiana. He hitch-hiked all the way to Gordo, Alabama. He was home at last and remained there until the day he passed away.
Mr. Allen was a friend to everyone, always willing to lend a hand and loved to tell stories about his life experiences. He was an avid hunter and brought his boys up with the same passion for turkey hunting.
Pallbearers will be Cole Allen, Blake Jackson, Brandon Jackson, Cody Allen, Justin Allen and Jeremy Allen.
Honorary Pallbearers are Westervelt, Hospice of West Alabama, Mitchell Hunting Club, Forest Baptist Church and the UAB ICU Stroke Unit.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to Forest Baptist Church, 1375 Benevola Road, Gordo, AL 35466.