Dan Allen's life was devoted to the pursuit of law and order and a commitment to community service.
"Dad believed in a man protecting his community and his country and those who cannot protect themselves," said his son, Bob Allen.
Daniel E. Allen, 92, of Elizabeth Township, a retired supervisor for the National Works of U.S. Steel Corp. in McKeesport, died Thursday, Aug. 24, 2006, at home.
As a member of the Pennsylvania Motor Police -- a forerunner of the Pennsylvania State Police -- Mr. Allen served the Elizabeth, Imperial, Washington and Waynesburg areas of Western Pennsylvania.
During World War II, Mr. Allen served as a member of the U.S. Army's 491st Military Police Escort Guard Company. The unit transferred German prisoners of war across the Atlantic Ocean and placed them in POW camps throughout the United States.
"And yet," said his other son, James Allen, principal at Butler Junior High School, "Dad found ways to relax from his MP duties by playing basketball for an Army team based in Paris.
"He was a very good athlete and basketball player at Skyesville (Jefferson County) High School," James Allen added. "And in later years as a member of the Old Timers Golf League of Elizabeth Township, Dad made a hole-in-one."
His wife, Helen Allen, a retired health and physical education teacher at Elizabeth-Forward High School, recalled meeting Mr. Allen in 1938 while on a blind date.
"Dan was still a state policeman," she said. "It didn't take me long to realize that he was not only a gentleman, but a kind and caring man, whom my parents really liked.
"We were married in 1941. A year later, Dan enlisted in the Army."
After his discharge from the military in 1945, Mr. Allen was employed in the personnel and safety department of the National Works of U.S.Steel. He retired as a supervisor in 1975.
James Allen said his father had 57 years' service to the Elizabeth Lions Club.
Helen Allen also recalled the family's commitment to Bethesda United Presbyterian Church in Elizabeth Borough.
"I sang in the choir, Dan was both a deacon and an elder, and the boys regularly attended Sunday School," she said.
James Allen also said he and his brother had their father as their Little League coach.
"Although Dad laid down the law, he was a soft-spoken father who encouraged us to make our own decisions and our own choices on how we wanted to lead our lives," his son said.
"The only regret Dad had was not being able to obtain a college education," said James Allen. "As soon as he finished high school, he had to work to help his family. But he never stopped learning on his own."
Mr. Allen is survived by his wife, Helen Wiegel Allen; sons, Robert D. Allen, of Elizabeth Borough, and James W. Allen, of Chicora, Butler County; a sister Velma Vadasy, of Syracuse, N.Y.; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by a brother, George Allen and a sister, Audrey Reid.
Viewing will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at Paul E. Bekavac Funeral Home, 221 Second St., Elizabeth Borough, where services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in the chapel, with the Rev. Lori Smallwood officiating.
Burial will be at Round Hill Cemetery.
