Dale Allen

Dale Kenneth Allen, 90, passed away peacefully, Wednesday, April 15, 2020, at his home beside his cherished and loving wife, Beth (Elizabeth Mayall Allen). Dale is survived by his daughters, Mary (Mary Lois Allen Keller), Wichita, KS, Chris (Christine Ann Allen Klipowicz), Olathe, KS, and Janie (Jane Elizabeth Allen), Garland, TX; his sons, Kenny (Dale Kenneth Allen II), Valley Center, KS, and Art (Arthur William Allen), Wichita and New York; grandchildren, Kyle Klipowicz, Jonathan (Julia) Keller, Rachel Keller (Jeff), Kelsey (Michal) Zydel, Kaitlyn (Bruno) Guerreiro, David Keller, Kenny Cade Allen, Casey Allen, and Cale Allen; great-grandchildren, Roland Johnson, Thomas Johnson, Stella Zydel, Oliver Zydel, Lucille Zydel, Hudson and Wesley Keller; sister, Lois (Gil) Park, Manhattan, KS; and sisters-in-law, Mary Barbara Allen, Gardner, KS, and Marie Allen, Olathe.

He was preceded in death by parents, Arthur Eugene and Adeline Octavia (Hinkle) Allen; brothers, Ghormley, Earl and Marvin Allen; sister, Christine Chalender and infant sister, Joyce; sisters-in-law, Lois Mayall and Evah Allen; and brother-in-law, Bob Chalender.

He was born July 5, 1929, in Miami County near Paola, KS. A farm boy who loved his family, animals and 4-H, Dale attended schools in Paola and graduated from Olathe High School. In school he played trumpet in band and was an active member of Future Farmers of America. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from Kansas State University in 1951. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and Collegiate 4-H.

Dale met Beth at a Collegiate 4-H Club social. She was a member of the Clovia 4-H Scholarship House. The dance kicked off their decades-long romance in 1947. Dale married his sweetheart in Wichita on May 26, 1951.

Through the college’s ROTC program, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. After a year at Wichita Municipal Airport, he moved to Tyndall Air Force Base near Panama City, FL, during the Korean Conflict. He left active duty as a First Lieutenant, joined the Air Force Reserves and served eight years at the Wichita base.

Dale’s civilian career stayed the course from which he’d charted in logistics and transportation in the military. He applied those skills in cargo businesses for local and national clients. His trek included taking him from Cassell’s of Mayflower; to ownership of Grey Transfer and Storage; to ownership of Air Cargo Inc.; and as an Air Express agent for DHL and Airborne.

Dale and Beth built their home north of Wichita on Mayall farmland, and their family grew to seven. He taught their children how to work and play and that love counted. His kids knew they could find him if they were lost in a group of strangers. All they had to do was listen for his laugh: that hearty, boisterous, jolly laugh. They could always find him! Guaranteed. They could count on listening for him to work every time.

Dale and his Beth shared love of faith, family, all things K-State, music, the arts, 4-H, sports, and more with their brood.

Dale was one of six in the generation of Allen Founders, who married and started their own branches of Allen cousins. They would gather with grandma and grandpa for holidays and other events. Some Allen cousins have been coeds at the same time at K-State, just as some Founders had been. And Allen Family Reunions carry on as more generations keep coming along.

Dale and Beth were 4-H community leaders for the Sunnydale Club northeast of Valley Center. He was honored as a State Leader in 1968. Amidst his careers, Dale also farmed wheat, soybeans, milo, and alfalfa; and raised Hereford cattle and Hampshire pigs.

Every place they were planted, Dale and Beth found a church where they could worship God and fellowship with others. They were blessed by Sunday worship services in the Methodist church in Panama City; the base chapel in Tyndall; College Hill Methodist in Wichita; First United Methodist in Valley; and Eastminster Presbyterian Church in Wichita, the current church where they have worshipped, enjoyed the Parlor Sunday School Class and a small group Bible study. They raised their family in church, and each child came to know the Lord. Dale made good on his commitment to put God and family first.

Family vacation planning was effortless for the logistics expert. Dale could open the dogeared Rand-McNally map on the kitchen table and draw the ideal route for each Allen Family Vacation. Dale commandeered many a station wagon on summer road trips across interstates and highways. Destinations and side trips included avisiting cousin Joyce at her Colorado cabin; touring Hershey’s chocolate candy-making plant and Fostoria’s crystal manufacturing plant; walking the Freedom Trail in Boston; seeing sites of the Battle of Gettysburg; driving Maine’s coastline; exploring Washington, D.C.; and experiencing New York City.

Through his unselfish gifts of kindness, Dale sought to serve others. He treated everyone the same. He wanted everyone to receive the respect he believed each deserved.

Dale shifted gears and moved from Grey Transfer and Storage and his successful air-freight business in 1971. He applied his Christian values and tried-and-true expertise as a logistical ace, and he accepted an invitation to begin navigating his career path with New York Life Insurance Company.

Dale gained expertise and earned certifications as a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Planner (ChFP), and Accredited Estate Planner (AEP). He also achieved standing as a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT).

He reached The Summit held in Lucerne, Switzerland, for the top 100 NYLIC Chairman’s Council agents.

Dale thrived in his storied New York Life career for more than 48 years.

Dale inspired people who met him. He mentored professionals willingly; none more than his son, Art, who worked alongside his dear friend and father for 39 years.

Dale served as president for the Wichita Estate Planning Council, Wichita Estate Planning Forum, and the Wichita Association of Life Underwriters.

He embodied the phrase “Service Above Self” and was proud to receive Rotary’s 40-year pin.

For years, he was on the board of the Wichita Farm and Ranch Club where dear friends were made.

He lived and breathed everything K-State. He was a diehard fan – as an undergrad inside Nichols Gymnasium at hoops contests to sticking it out in the stands in Memorial Stadium to cheer on the woeful Wildcat football squads in those bleak years so many decades before the Snyder Eras. Ever the Purple Pride optimists, Dale and Beth started their run on season football tickets at KSU Stadium in 1968; and in 2020, they looked forward to Saturdays this Fall when they would be cheering on the Cats again.

Dale was a loving husband, father, grandpa, great-grandpa, son, brother, cousin, uncle, colleague, mentor and friend. He loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and Dale sought to glorify God in how he walked the walk, not just talked the talk. He practiced the economy of words. Volumes unspoken, he taught others how to live life unfettered by self and pride.

Dale ran the race of his life with his whole heart. The course was clearly mapped. It is recorded in the Bible in 2 Timothy 4:7-8 (KJV):

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid forth for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

Dale’s Celebration of Life service will be August 7 at 2 p.m. at the folks’ church, Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 1958 N. Webb Rd., Wichita, KS 67206. (316) 634-0337.

Those unable to attend can view the live-streamed service “in real time” online at eastminster.org.

Eastminster will also provide a link to the service in its online archive of live-streamed services.