Edward E. Allen

EDWARD E. ALLEN SHREVEPORT, LA - A memorial service for Edward E. Allen, will be held at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, July 11, 2015 at Barksdale United Methodist Church, in Bossier City, LA. Visitation will be before the service, beginning at 1:30 p.m. and lasting until time of service. He died June 15, 2015 after a brief illness at home with his family. Born in 1924 of sturdy pioneer stock, Ed grew up on a farm where he developed a strong work ethic and love of natural beauty. He was drafted in to the Army Air Corp in 1943 and served 23 months in the Southwest Pacific area. After more than 40 missions as a tail gunner on a B-24 bomber, he returned to his hometown of Breckenridge, Missouri. There he met and married his life companion, Carol Sage. They lived and worked on a farm and three sons, Gary, David, and Bruce were added to their family. In 1953 he was recalled to the USAF and was sent to Japan as a parachute rigger. Taking advantage of much training and many classes, he changed to the missile field and served at Cape Canaveral during the time of the first manned space flights. Eric, their fourth son, joined the family during this exciting time in history. After a tour in Germany and many stateside bases, Ed retired from the military at Barksdale in 1971. It was then that he found his true "calling" with the discovery of working with stained glass and its many components. The cultivation of his iconic handlebar moustache was at this time and it lasted a lifetime. Ed's Emporium was established in 1978 and serves as a lighthouse for the many students and friends who have learned to share the beauty of stained glass. While art and music were a big part of his life, his true love was for his home and family. He was proud of his boys. His deep faith in God was the key to a life well lived. Ed is survived by Carol, his wife of 68 years; sons, Gary and wife, Robin, David and wife, Michele, Bruce and wife, Dorothy Kristin Hanna, and Eric and wife, Debbie; grandchildren, Sage Allen and fiancé, Santina Hines, Susan Harrison and husband, Austin and their mother, Dianne Boyett Allen, Kim Gutierrez and husband, Sid, Kevin Allen, Meaghan Barbier and husband, Kody, Sarah Allen, Arwen Byrd, Clyde Hargrove and Billy Hargrove and wife, Kelly; and great-grandchildren, Ollie Mae, A.J. and Caroline Harrison, and Trey and Noelle Gutierrez. He also leaves his sister, Jo Bennet and sister-in-law, Charlene Roth and husband, Nick: nieces, Kristi Boyer, Karla Kopp, Jan O\'Brien and Julie Prevatt. The family would like to thank our \"angel on earth,\" Sheira Foster, who cared for Ed during his last illness. Memorials are suggested for Barksdale United Methodist Church, Shreveport Regional Arts Council or the Bossier Arts Council.