Ted Allen

Ted Allen, age 67, of Merlin, died Saturday, February 25, 2012 at Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland, Oregon from complications of 3rd degree burns.

A celebration of life will be at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, April 14, 2012 at Allen Acres, Orygun. For more information email [emailprotected]

A memorial service with military honors will be at 2:00 p.m., Monday, April 16, 2012 at Eagle Point National Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to La Esperanza Children’s Home, Cuenca, Ecuador @ www.verbocuenca.org or Wounded Warriors Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville Florida 32256 (www.woundedwarriorproject.org) or 3/506 Task Force 101st Airborne Division, c/o Mike Krawczyk, President, 2405 Thomas Road, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 (currahee3-506.org).

Ted was born November 7, 1944 in Kansas City, Kansas and as a baby moved to California. After many moves the family settled in San Jose, California in the 1950’s. In 1966 he was drafted into the United States Army and was a Sergeant in the 101st Airborne 3/506. In Vietnam, he was stabbed, hit by shrapnel and shot. Along with being shot, he was also given two types of cancer from Agent Orange. He was awarded the Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon with Device, Expert Badge, Parachutist Badge and The Bronze Star Medal. In 1968 Ted was retired from the army due to his injuries. After his retirement from the army, he worked in electronics distribution and went to school at San Jose State University. Ted and Susan married in June of 1974. In 1990 they moved from San Jose, California to Merlin where he helped with his daughters' sports teams during the days while working nights at the Medford Post Office. He also helped with mathematics at Manzanita Elementary School and Fleming Middle School. He retired from the USPS in 2005.

Ted enjoyed making decorative windmills, tile birdhouses and tile trivets, Birdfeeders and cribbage boards. Ted especially loved being a father to his three daughters and a Granddaddy to his grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Susan Allen of Merlin, Oregon; three daughters, Jennifer Sweeney of Coquille, Oregon; Alexis Allen of Grants Pass, Oregon and Karyn Guido of Portland, Oregon; two sisters, Julia Miller of Grants Pass, Oregon and Diana Hunter of Lake Shastina, California and three and a half (one on the way) grandchildren.