Ray Allen

Ray Allen, age 81, of Charleston, IL, died at his home on March 30, 2012

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at the Old State Road Christian Church Disciples of Christ, 13982 Old State Road, in Charleston, IL. Rev. Sharon Patton, Rev. Jan and Tom Hawkins and Rev. Tony Cox are officiating.
Burial will be in the Mound Cemetery in Charleston, IL. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. The Edwards Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.

He is survived by his wife Joyce, daughters Diana, Carmen and partner Renee Hatfield,
granddaughter, Audra Wyant and husband Chris, grandson Blake Roach and fiancee Jennifer Salyers, and great grandsons, Christian and Ian Roach.

Ray was born on March 8, 1931. He grew up in Eminence, Kentucky. He was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Hattie Lewis Ellis Allen and four brothers, Herbert Jr, Robert, James and Lynn.

He was a graduate of Kentucky Military Institute, Transylvania University, Lexington Theological Seminary, and he received an M.A. in Sociology at Eastern Illinois University where he also served as an adjunct faculty member in the Sociology Department.

Ray was a dedicated Disciples of Christ minister who served First Christian Church in Morehead, Kentucky, First Christian Church in Charleston for ten years and Marshall Avenue Christian church in Mattoon for eleven years. He was also a charter member and the founding pastor of the Disciples of Christ Christian Church (now called the Old State Road Christian Church). After retirement he served interim ministries at First Christian Church of Vandalia and First Christian Church of Casey. For the past several years, he regularly attended First Presbyterian Church of Charleston.

In addition to serving nearly thirty years in the ministry, Ray was also a dedicated public servant having served as an elected member of the Coles County Board for twelve years. He was also a member of the committee that established the first Coles County Mental Health Clinic, chair of the first Illinois Disciples Ministry Senate, administrator for the Youth Service Bureau, and he served regularly as a volunteer hospital chaplain.

Ray was an avid fan of Charleston High School football and also a strong supporter of both football and basketball athletics at Eastern Illinois University, and he was an equally dedicated supporter of the Eastern Illinois Symphony Orchestra and the Tarble Art Center.

In lieu of flowers, memorial remembrances to First Presbyterian Church or Old State Road Christian Church are suggested.