Orville Duane Allen

Orville Duane Allen, age 98, died Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at St. Francis Hospital in Cape Girardeau.  Mr. Allen was born March 18, 1926, at Fairdealing, Missouri, to parents Dewey Ruben Allen and his wife, Sylvia Lavada (Hutchison) Allen.  He married Alice Geraldine Eggers on August 1, 1949, who was his wife of seventy years and preceded him in death.  He was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod in Poplar Bluff.

Mr. Allen was a life-long resident of southeast Missouri.  He graduated from Neelyville High School in 1941 and earned his undergraduate and master’s degree from the University of Missouri, at Columbia, in Vocational Agriculture Education.  With the exception of his first four years of teaching, he was the Vocational Agriculture teacher at Neelyville High School for 36 years.  His legacy has been the many former students who went on to Agriculture-related careers.  He was proud to have taught and worked with farmers of the community and their children and grandchildren.

Mr. Allen was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Army Air Corp and later he served in the Korean War in the Army First Cavalry Division, Communications.  After returning home, he joined in the Army Reserve and served until he retired at the rank of Lt. Colonel.

He was a passionate historian and natural scientist, especially in regards to geology.  Mr. Allen could keep students, family and friends captivated with his in-depth knowledge of local history and geology.  He was one of the founders and then the first president of the Neelyville Historical Society.  He and his wife, Geraldine, traveled the world to learn and experience historic places, a love of learning and history he shared with her.

Mr. Allen and his wife have 3 children, daughter Linda Diane (Allen) Mitchelle and husband, Randy L. Mitchelle, son Col. Gregory Owen Allen, (Ret.) and wife, Col. Cheryl Ann (Duckett) Allen, (Ret.) and son Kevin Lynn Allen, P.E. and wife, Andra Lanelle (Mullenax) Allen.  He has 3 grandsons:  Michael Lee Mitchelle and wife, Anne, Eric Allen Mitchelle and wife, Cory, and Ryan Alexander Mitchelle, and wife Laura.  He has 6 great-grandchildren:  Lily Anne Mitchelle, Charlotte Evelyn Mitchelle, Jack Lee Mitchelle, Caroline Alice Mitchelle, Kate Elizabeth Mitchelle, and Georgia Louise Mitchelle.  Mr. Allen was preceded in death by his brother, Ralph Donald Lee Allen and his parents.

As Mr. Allen’s last act of giving, was as an organ donor.  He was in such good physical health, at age 98, he was the oldest donor to date in the world to give the Gift of Life.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 1, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.  at Cotrell Willow Ridge Funeral & Cremation Services, 1100 Iron Bridge Road, Poplar Bluff, Missouri.  Rev. Justin Sponaugle will officiate the funeral at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 2, 2024, at Cotrell Willow Ridge Funeral & Cremation Services.  Graveside military honors will be presented at Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Cotrell Willow Ridge Funeral & Cremation Services is honored to serve the family and friends of Mr. Orville Duane Allen. Online condolences can be made at www.cwrfcs.com.