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Harvey Wendell Allen

August 29, 1933 — September 3, 2017

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Harvey Wendell Allen

Harvey Wendell Allen, age 84, of Greenwood, Louisiana, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, September 3, 2017. He had been under hospice care at home and was surrounded by family as he passed away peacefully from renal cell cancer. Harvey was born in Emerson, Arkansas, on August 29, 1933, to Mattie Pharr and Jesse Harvey Allen. He graduated from Fair Park High School, attended Centenary College, and studied electrical engineering at Louisiana State University. Harvey proudly served his country in the US Navy and in the Navy Reserve. Harvey loved to sing, especially barbershop and gospel music. He was a member of the Centenary College Choir and sang tenor in a traveling gospel quartet that performed in churches and venues throughout the South in the 1950's and 1960's and live on local radio stations including their own radio program in Center, Texas. His career in the field of electrical engineering spanned over 50 years. Harvey was a brilliant and creative lighting engineer and received numerous awards for his designs. He was active in many professional organizations, including the Illuminating Engineering Society, and enjoyed friendships with colleagues around the world. He worked for Somdal Associates for 34 years and then began his own consulting business in Shreveport. He joined Beaudin-Ganze Consulting Engineers in Vail, Colorado, in 1995. There he formed a special bond with new graduates that he mentored. He and Rita treasured the many cards, phone calls, visits, e-mails, and pictures they continue to receive year round from their other "kids." Harvey and Rita returned to Louisiana in 2003 to retire in Greenwood, and he continued consulting work with Beaudin-Ganze. Harvey became president of the Greenwood Business Alliance and worked diligently to establish membership in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He was honored by the chamber in 2015 for this accomplishment. An active member of the community, he was President and Treasurer of the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce at the time of his death. He was a member of Greenwood United Methodist Church. Harvey was preceded in death by his parents, brother Joe Pharr Allen, sons Harvey Wendell Allen, Jr. and Jesse Harvey Allen, and granddaughter Leslie Ann Smith. Left to cherish his memories are his wife of 49 years Helen Rita Allen; daughters Pamela McLean (Terry) of Sugar Land, Texas, Susan Heller (Dick) of Bedford, New Hampshire, and Pamela Bregenzer (Mike) of Katy, Texas, and Dansville, New York; sons John Robert Allen of Shreveport and David Bruce of Bossier City; 10 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren; nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind his beloved pets Minnie and Prissy and a host of friends who thought of him as their brother. Visitation will be on Sunday, September 10, from 2-4 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home Southside Chapel. A celebration of Harvey's life will be on Monday, September 11, at 9:00 a.m. at Greenwood United Methodist Church, 9219 Church Street. Sandy DeFatta and Leon Walker will officiate. Patriot Guard Riders will provide escort to a Naval Honors ceremony and interment at Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery. Lunch and fellowship will follow at the church. Serving as honorary pallbearers are Harvey's sons-in-law, Eddie Byrd, and members of the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors (Veronica Brown, Lloyd Carter, Mark Garner, Chelsea Grissom, Josephine Birdsong-Robinson, John Robinson, David Searcy, Duane Simpson, Kay Stough, and J. Sue Woodsen). Harvey loved his neighbors as himself, and in that spirit, the family would be honored for memorials or donations to be made to charities of your choice.

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