Betty Allen
Della Elizabeth "Betty" Allen, 71, longtime resident of Ponca City, Okla., died Oct. 12, 2004, in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Born Nov. 28, 1932, at Manhattan, she was the daughter of Leonard and Golda (Diffenderfer) Young.
She was a 1950 graduate of Sabetha High School and later earned a bachelor's degree from Emporia State Teachers College.
She lived in suburban Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Calif., and northern California prior to returning to Kansas.
On Dec. 26, 1954, she married Kerns Allen at Topeka. The couple made their home in Emporia.
She taught music at Madison before moving to Ponca City in 1957.
They were members of Albright United Methodist Church of Ponca City and later helped establish the Word of Life Christian Center in 1974, where Betty had remained a longtime member.
She was a talented musician, having played the violin since age 11, and was very active in vocal and instrumental music within her church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Kerns, in 1996, and one great-grandson, Hunter.
Survivors include two sons, Tim and Mary Allen of Moore, Okla., and Kirk Allen of Ponca City, Okla.; a brother, Leonard Young of Port Orchard, Wash.; a sister, Gwen Pinneo of Ponca City; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Friday afternoon at Word of Life Christian Center with Pastor Bob Innis officiating.
Burial was in IOOF Cemetery.
A memorial fund has been established with the church.
