September 16, 1920 – May 8, 2012

ANDERSON, SC - Ralph J. Allen, Sr., age 91, husband of the late Eleanor Jones Allen, passed away on Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at Rainey Hospice House.

Born in Anderson, he was the son of the late Henry A. “Dude” Allen and the late Elsie Mae Ivester Allen.  Mr. Allen retired from Orr Lyons Mill.  He was an avid gardener and sports fan.  He especially enjoyed the New York Yankees.  Ralph was a member at Orrville United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his children, Jan Sutherland and her husband, Jim of Danville, VA, Jean Watkins and her husband, David “Dee” of Anderson and Ralph J. ”Jerry” Allen, Jr. and his wife Bobbi of Anderson; grandchildren, Kim Spencer and her husband Tim of Roanoke, VA, Xandy Owen and her husband Chris of Richmond, VA, Leigh Ann Porch and her husband Anthony of Danville, VA,  David Watkins and his wife, Alicia of Charleston, SC, Julia Stone and her husband Scott of Chevy Chase, MD, Kellye Rainey and her husband, Brandon of Starr, SC, and Chad Allen of Anderson; great-grandchildren, Forrest and Ann-Riley Spencer, Henry and Claude Owen, Amelia and Liza Porch, Avery and Abigail Rainey and Benjamin and Eloise Stone; sisters, Juanita Atkins of Rock Hill, SC, Jeanette Fant of Belton, SC; brother, Reverend Roy Allen of Anderson; sister in laws, Martha J. Lawton of Iva, SC, Frances Jones of Iva, SC and Edith Allen of Anderson.

In addition to his parents and his wife, he is preceded in death by his brothers, Reverend Garvin W. Allen, and Marion “Tige” Allen; a sister, Betty Jones; and a great-grandson, Hayden Matthew Rainey.

The Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 2:00pm in the Chapel of The McDougald Funeral Home with Reverend J. Floyd Stansell, Jr. officiating.  Entombment will follow in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Mausoleum in Anderson.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday, May 12, 2012 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm.

The family will be at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Jean and David Watkins, 1204 E. Greenville Street, Anderson, SC.

Flowers are optional.  Memorials may be made to Orrville United Methodist Church, 135 Riley Street, Anderson, SC 29624, or Hospice of the Upstate, 1835 Rogers Road, Anderson, SC 29621.

A message of condolence may be sent by visiting www.mcdougaldfuneralhome.com.