Dr. Robert W. Allen, 630 Tanglewood Rd., Hermitage, passed away peacefully at his residence on Tuesday, (7-14-09) at 3:05 a.m. with family at his side. He was 78.
He was born on June 11, 1931, in Detroit, Michigan, to Harry Lowe Allen and Ruth Marie Sturm. He married Patricia Ruth Rome in Detroit in 1954. They had nine children.
He graduated in 1953 with a B.S. from Wayne University in Detroit, where he won three letters in tennis, and in 1956 from Wayne University College of Medicine. Dr. Allen did his internship at Southern Pacific Hospital in San Francisco, California, served two years of active duty in the Army from 1957 to 1959, and then spent 1959 to 1962 in a residency in radiology at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. In 1962 he began his radiology practice at Sharon General Hospital.
During his thirty-six years of medical practice in the Shenango Valley, Dr. Allen served his profession in a variety of capacities. He was President of the Medical Staff at Sharon Regional Hospital for three terms. He served as president of the Mercer County Medical Society and as its delegate to the Pennsylvania Medical Society for twelve years. He was Chief of the Department of Radiology from 1992 until his retirement in 1998.
For many years active in the pro-life movement, between 1986 and 2007 Robert W. Allen spoke at 140 Catholic churches in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio. He received the Papal Cross from John Paul II in 1991.
He was also active in his church. Dr. Allen served as a Eucharistic Minister at Notre Dame Church for many years. He was a longtime member of the Mercer County Serra Club, an organization which encourages vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
Bob Allen was an avid reader who also enjoyed playing bridge. After his retirement, between the ages of 65 and 70, he ran six marathons, including the Marine Corps Marathon and two marathons with his sons Michael and Bob.
A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, he took great pleasure in spending time with his wife, children, and grandchildren.
Robert W. Allen was preceded in death by his parents, by two children, Thomas Edward and Ruthanne Margaret, and by a granddaughter, Jill Anne Allen.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia R. Allen, Hermitage; his children Susan Allen and John R. Ford, of Cleveland, Mississippi, Michael H. and Mary Sabol Allen of York, Pennsylvania, Robert D. and Fumiko Ishihara Allen of San Jose, California, John P. Allen of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, William R. and Susan Sabol Allen of North Royalton, Ohio, Chaplain Capt. Richard J. Allen, on active duty in Iraq with the Pennsylvania National Guard, and Mary Elizabeth and Jose F. Olivier of Annapolis, Maryland; his brother, Richard H. Allen and his wife Mary Rabenburg of Lincoln, Nebraska; sisters-in-law Barbara Berry of Rolling Meadows, Illinois, and Susan Sikorski and her husband Leo of Sun City West, Arizona; and seven grandchildren, Michael Harry Allen, Jr., Peter David Allen, Thomas Patrick Allen, Amy Marie Allen, Robert Iwao Allen, Michael Tsutomu Allen, and Anna Gabriella Olivier.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his memory to Pro-Life of Mercer County, P. O. Box 885, Sharon, PA 16146; the Angel Fund of the Cancer Care Center, Sharon Regional Hospital, 2320 Highland Road, Hermitage, PA 16148; or Prince of Peace Center, 502 Darr Ave., Farrell, PA 16121.
Calling hours: 2 t o 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday (7-20-09) in the J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory Inc. 1090 E. State Street, Sharon. Condolences may be sent by visiting the web site www.McGonigleFuneralHomeandCrematory.com
Services: Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Tuesday (7- 21 -09) at 11:00 a.m. in Church of Notre Dame with Rev. Richard J. Allen and other diocesan priests celebrating the Liturgy.
Interment: St. Rose Cemetery, Hermitage.