Velma (Moore) Allen (1901 - 1990)

Born 23 Nov 1901 in Logansport, Cass, Indiana, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Olin Oscar Allen — married 4 Jul 1921 in Frankfort, Clinton, Indiana, United States

Descendants

Died 26 Oct 1990 at age 88 in Tyler, Smith, Texas, United States

Biography

Velma Moore was born on November 23, 1901, in Logansport, Indiana. She was the daughter of Charles Moore and Ella Connors. She married Olin Oscar Allen on July 4, 1921, in Frankfort, Indiana. They had two sons during their marriage. She died on October 26, 1990, in Tyler, Texas, at the age of 88, and was buried in Elkhart, Indiana.

Newspaper Article: Tyler Morning Telegraph. Tyler, Texas. July 4, 1989, Tue. Page 21

Tyler Couple Celebrates 68 Years

Fireworks go off for most during that traditional kiss at the marriage ceremony, but fireworks literally went off around the country for Olin and Velma (Moore) Allen of Tyler 68 years ago on their Independence Day wedding.

Allen, 90, and his wife, 88, were married on July 4, 1921, in Frankfort, Ind., in a home ceremony.

"I don't know how it ended up on the fourth," Allen said. "We were actually going to be married on the second, but it interfered with my job or something. It was a long time ago."

The couple met on a blind date and, as Allen joked, "she chased me til she got me."

The couple lived in Chicago, during the reign of Al Capone, 1930-35, where Allen worked for the New York Central Railroad, now called the Pennsylvania railroad. However, he never saw Capone except at a distance.

Allen recalls working for the railroad since age 17. "I worked on the railroad during the depression. I used to work 12 hours a day for $87.50 a month. That was pretty good."

After retirement from the railroad, Allen owned a marine shop. The couple has lived in Tyler for 20 years, where he still repairs boat motors and resells them.

Allen says the key to sticking together for 68 years is love. "When you love somebody, you love them."

He also added that it helps to have a loving wife like he has. Mrs. Allen has been bedfast for two years but "she can smile through almost anything that happens." Mrs. Allen lost her sight 27 years ago due to retina difficulties.

Allen said they would spend their anniversary with a quiet time at home and visits with their children while the rest of the world celebrates it with a bang.

The couple has two sons and daughters-in-law, Philip and Doris Allen of Bradenton, Fla., and Michael and Carolyn Allen of Bullard. They have nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Newspaper Article: Tyler Morning Telegraph. Tyler, Texas. July 4,1990, Wed. Page 41

Allens Celebrate 69th

Mr. and Mrs. Olin Allen of Tyler will celebrate their 69th wedding anniversary Wednesday.

Mr. Allen married the former Velma Moore July 4, 1921, in Frankfort, Ind. He is retired from the New York Central Railroad and also worked repairing outboard motors upon his retirement. She is a housewife and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. Mr. and Mrs. Allen are members of Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler. He is a Masonic Lodge member.

The couple has two sons and daughters-in-law, Phillip and Doris Allen of Bradenton, Fla., and Michael and Carolyn Allen of Bullard; nine grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

Obituary: The Tyler Courier-Times. Tyler, Texas. October 28, 1990, Sun. Page 6

Memorial services for Mrs. Velma Allen, 88, Tyler, are scheduled for 3 p.m Sunday in the chapel of Green Acres Baptist Church under the direction of Lloyd James Funeral Home with the Rev. Bob Hogg officiating.

Mrs. Allen died Friday night in a Tyler hospital after a brief illness.

She was born Nov. 23, 1901, in Logansport, Ind., and lived in Tyler since 1972. She was a housewife, a member of Green Acres Baptist Church, Starlight Chapter 181 Order of the Eastern Star and Woman's Society of Christian Service for 40 years in Elkhart, Ind. She formerly resided in Elkhart where she was a housewife.

Survivors include her husband, Olin O. Allen, Tyler; two sons and daughters-in-law, Mike and Carolyn Allen, Bullard, and Phillip and Doris Allen, Bradenton, Fla.; one niece, Patricia Huse, Indianapolis, Ind.; and nine grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Lighthouse for the Blind, 1716 North Forrest Ave., Tyler, 75702.

Records

Index to Birth Records. Works Progress Administration. Indiana: Indiana Works Progress Administration, 1938-1940.

Name: Moore

Father: Chas; Mother: Ella Conners

Gender: Female; Birth Date: 23 Nov 1901

Book: H-10; Page: 111

Year: 1910; Census Place: Frankfort Ward 1, Clinton, Indiana; Roll: T624_343; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 0048; FHL microfilm: 1374356.

Name: Velma Moore; Age in 1910: 8

Birth Year: abt 1902; Birthplace: Indiana

Street: Columbus John & Gentry

Race: White; Gender: Female

Relation to Head of House: Daughter; Marital Status: Single

Father's name: Chas P Moore; Father's Birthplace: Indiana

Mother's name: Ella F Moore; Mother's Birthplace: Indiana

Attended School: Yes

Household Members:

Chas P Moore 30

Ella F Moore 28

Clide Moore 9

Velma Moore 8

Homer C Moore 1

James F Moore 62

Grover Moore 22

Year: 1928. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995.

Name: Velma Allen; Gender: Female; Residence Year: 1928

Street address: 327 McPherson

Residence Place: Elkhart, Indiana, USA

Spouse: Olin A Allen

Publication Title: Elkhart, Indiana, City Directory, 1928

Year: 1940; Census Place: Cleveland, Elkhart, Indiana; Roll: m-t0627-01040; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 20-4.

Name: Velma Allen; Respondent: Yes

Age: 38; Estimated Birth Year: abt 1902

Gender: Female; Race: White; Birthplace: Indiana

Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Wife

Residence in 1935: Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Resident on farm in 1935: No

Sheet Number: 5B

Attended School or College: No

Highest Grade Completed: High School, 4th year

Weeks Worked in 1939: 0; Income: 0; Income Other Sources: No

Household Members:

Alin Allen 40

Velma Allen 38

Philip Allen 13

Michael Allen 3

U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT.

Name: Velma Allen [Velma Moore]

Gender: Female; Race: White

Birth Date: 23 Nov 1901; Birth Place: Frankfort, Indiana

Death Date: 26 Oct 1990; Claim Date: 10 Nov 1965

Father: Charles P Moore; Mother: Ella M Oconner

Citizenship or Alien Status: U.S. citizen.

Type of Claim: Duplicate request; evidence of identity only submitted.

Notes: 11 Oct 1989: Name listed as VELMA ALLEN

U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

Name: Velma Allen; Maiden Name: Moore

Birth Date: 1901; Death Date: 1990

Cemetery: Rice Cemetery

Burial or Cremation Place: Elkhart, Elkhart County, Indiana, United States

Has Bio?: N

Father: Charles P Moore; Mother: Ella F Moore

Spouse: Olin Oscar Allen

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/99122882/velma-allen

Please feel free to edit and add information.

Sources

• Index to Birth Records. Works Progress Administration. Indiana: Indiana Works Progress Administration, 1938-1940.

• Year: 1910; Census Place: Frankfort Ward 1, Clinton, Indiana; Roll: T624_343; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 0048; FHL microfilm: 1374356.

• Year: 1928. Elkhart, Indiana, City Directory. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995.

• Year: 1940; Census Place: Cleveland, Elkhart, Indiana; Roll: m-t0627-01040; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 20-4.

• U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT.

• Find A Grave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/99122882/velma-allen