September 27, 1935 ~ August 27, 2020
MMCM (SS) Clarence E. Allen
Clarence Elvert “Al” Allen Jr., was born in Arkansas City, KS, on Sept. 27, 1935, to Clarence Elvert Allen and Iva Arlene Seal. He grew up in Guthrie, OK, and graduated from Guthrie High School. Soon after graduation, Clarence joined the Navy and began a 20-year career in the Submarine Service. After serving aboard a WWII style, diesel-powered submarine, he was proud to be selected to serve on the USS Nautilus, the first nuclear powered submarine, for three years. He then taught at the Nuclear Power School in New London, CT, and Bainbridge, MD. Back on sea duty he was assigned to the USS Nathanael Greene, a Fleet Ballistic Missile submarine being built at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, ME. Eight years later he was the last man of the original Blue Crew to leave the ship.
On his retirement in 1974, Clarence returned to Guthrie with his family and opened a small engine repair shop. He also ran a cow-calf operation (the career he loved the most).
Clarence is survived by his wife of 59 years, Alice Dion Allen, son John Allen and wife Karen, daughter Nancy Tinder and husband Justin, sisters Paula Maddox and Judy Dodd, brother Lee James Allen, grandsons Alex Allen, Zach Allen, Ryan Tinder and Lucas Tinder and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his son Terry Lee Allen.
Private family services will be held on Sept. 2, 2020 at Smith-Gallo Funeral Home. Services are under the direction of Smith-Gallo Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to “The Nautilus Scholarship” Administered by the Dolphin Scholarship Foundation. Send donations to: 4966 Euclid Rd. Suite 109, Virginia Beach, VA 23462 (Attn: The Nautilus Scholarship).