It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Dad, G-Dad, Granddad and Great G-Dad, Richard Harry Allen. Dad passed peacefully in his sleep in the home he has lived in for 74 years on July 30, 2026. Dad was born in Compton, California on September 1, 1941 to Chester and Louie Allen. His family moved to Ventura, California in 1952 where he attended Ventura High School and was a 1960 graduate. After graduation, he joined the Air Force in 1960 to 1964. While in the Air Force, he was stationed at Bunker Hill in Indiana on a SAC base during the Cuban crisis. Some of his fondest memories come from his years in the military, and the friends he made. After being discharged from the military, Dad came back to Ventura; in 1967, he met and married Carlene Rhodes. During their marriage, they had two daughters, Kimberly and Michelle. After our parents divorced, dad always said they were married for 19 years, 7 months, 11 days, 15 hours, 45 minutes and 36 seconds…but who was counting? They still remained friends including her husband Chip and his family for the rest of their lives.
Dad worked for Shell Oil Company as a tanker driver for 23 years where he was proud to say he had 1,185,000 safe driving miles. After retiring from Shell Oil, he started volunteering for Ventura Police Department. Acts of service were very important to Dad. His first position was as a storefront volunteer and then became the storefront coordinator. When Ventura started their Volunteers in Policing (VIP) program, Dad was one of the very first to sign up and became one of their volunteers. His badge number was number two. He loved volunteering with the Ventura PD, where he was blessed to have made very many dear friends.
One of the things he loved was hunting and fishing and going camping in Mammoth with his “Bro” Ray. They spent every fall since 1998 in Mammoth camping with friends no matter the weather. Dad also looked forward to going to Smokers Castle every Friday night to hang out with his friends. Where they would enjoy a cigar and a sip of Bulleit Rye whiskey where he would toast to God, to Country and the Military. Dad never knew a stranger and was always ready with a joke or a story. Just ask Jeff who had breakfast with him every Saturday for close to 20 years!
Dad’s biggest pride was his family. Especially his grandsons and great granddaughter. Just a few days before he passed, he was talking about how proud he was to have been chosen to pin his grandson, Cory‘s blue cord on at his graduation from basic in the turning blue ceremony. He loved that his grandson Jordan followed in his footsteps and loves the outdoors. He would absolutely glow when he would talk about how his great granddaughter would call him and before they would hang up would go back-and-forth about who loved each other most and he would always laugh at how Lacey would end it saying I love you the mostest and hang up the phone. From then on, anytime you would tell dad I love you he would let you know I love you more and he would say the word “click” as if he was hanging up the phone.
Richard was proceeded in death by his parents, Chester and Louie Allen of Ventura, CA and Sister Marilyn Hawn of Anchorage, AK.
Richard is survived by his daughters Kimberly Allen of Ventura, CA, Michelle and, husband, Greg Garrow of Wilbraham, MA, grandsons, Cory, and wife April Allen of Brandon, FL, Jordan Garrow of Wilbraham, MA and his beloved great granddaughter Lacey Allen of Brandon, FL.
We would like to reach out to Dad’s whole neighborhood of which he has lived in since he was 11. I would like to personally thank everyone who walked by knowing dad was in the den and would wave at him everyday. I would also like to thank everyone who came up to his “drive up” window and said hi! He loved it when neighbors, gardeners and our postman Dave took the time to come say hi. He loved this neighborhood and they loved him as well.
We also would like to thank Ventura Post Acute for the beautiful care they gave Dad. Dad loved giving everyone a hard time with a smile. He was shown love, compassion and dignity, which we will be forever grateful.
We would also like to thank the care Livingston Hospice gave our dad. They helped make his travels home a beautiful and peaceful journey. Thank you everyone who cared for our Dad.
Family and friends are invited to a Visitation from 4:00pm to 8:00pm on Thursday, September 3, 2026 in the JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE, 757 East Main St, Ventura, with a Military Service at 7:00pm. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00am on Friday, September 4, 2026 in the Little Church of Flowers in Forest Lawn Glendale, 1712 S Glendale Ave, Glendale. Burial will follow at 11:30am.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.