Tom Allen

(From Parker Mortuary)

Thomas Joseph (Tom) Allen,78, died Thursday from cancer while in hospice.

Born July 23, 1947 in Dubuque, Iowa because his first hometown of Galena, Ill. was too small to have a maternity ward,

Tom was a Joplin resident since 1968 upon his parents moving from Englewood, N.J. He was preceded in death by his parents Victor C.(Vic) Allen and Charlotte Elizabeth (Betty) Allen both of Joplin and his brother Gregg Allen of San Francisco.

He is survived by his brother Nate Allen of Fayetteville, Ark. and his two children daughter Kym and son David and Kym’s husband, Odie Williams and their four children all of Fayetteville. Sister Vicki Allen and her husband Mannie Garcia live in Alton, Ill and nieces Barbara Straub of Sacramento, Calif. and Tori Fullmer of Denver and Gregg’s wife Terry Allen of San Francisco. Tom also would have been remembered fondly by his first dog Professor and the many cats and dogs and even a pony named Trusty he later would adopt.

Tom graduated from Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood,N.J. and attended Monmouth College in N.J. and attended the University of Tulsa and the University of Arkansas before completing his business degree at Missouri Southern State College in his by then hometown of Joplin.

Tom began working for Ronnie’s Gas Station in Englewood.

In Joplin he managed the Land of Oz Arcade, and by many was called the “Wizard” or “Wiz.” Tom owned and operated the Office Lounge and later worked for Bagcraft.

His hobbies included being an avid follower of NASCAR, the Indianapolis 500 and drag racing.

Our special thanks to Michael Stair of Joplin and former Joplin resident Mindy Murphy Iverson of Bella Vista, Ark. for remaining Tom’s steadfast friends through the end.