Roswald J. “Papa” Allen, age 71, died Friday, December 12, 2014 at the Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas, Georgia.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, December 16, 2014 at The Paulk Funeral Home Chapel, Fitzgerald, with Bro. Sammy Smith officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 Monday evening at the funeral home in Fitzgerald.
Mr. Allen was born July 6, 1943, in Irwin County, the only child of the late Arnold “Pat” & Juanita Ring Allen. A 1961 graduate of Fitzgerald High School, he attended Georgia State College in Atlanta. He was drafted into the United States Army where he served his country honorably during the Vietnam War era. He served as a Sergeant in a munitions bunker and as an M.P. while stationed in the DMZ in Korea. He began his railroad career in June 1968 having worked with Seaboard Coastline Railroad. He retired from CSX as a conductor. Mr. Allen was an avid outdoorsman who loved camping and being on the water. Whether hunting, fishing, or boating, his love of nature was enjoyed the most when sharing it with his family. He loved black powder firearms and was particularly interested in the fine mechanisms of gunsmithing. He was adamant that safety was first and foremost in shooting sports. A lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, he also purchased life memberships for his children for their 16th birthdays. He made certain each grandchild owned their own Daisy Red Ryder BB gun before they were one-year old. Mr. Allen was a patriot and passed along his love of our country to his family. He was of the Christian faith. He was a supporter of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews and strongly believed in Israel’s God-given right to exist as a nation. “God-Family-Country”
He is survived by his wife of 45 years: Anita J. Allen of Coffee County; a daughter: Holly & Joseph Di Lecce of Orlando, Florida; a son: Brian Allen of Ben Hill County; and four grandchildren: Abby Di Lecce, Julie Di Lecce, Gina Di Lecce, and Reuben Di Lecce.