Elizabeth Allen

Elizabeth "Bessie" Allen, 96, Brentwood, California died Thursday, March 18, 2004, at her home. She was born September 8, 1907 in Elk City, in Montgomery County, Kansas to Edwin B. and Armina I. Megonigle Haines. She attended school in Montgomery County until the family moved to Maple Hill, Kansas where she attended elementary and high school. She had lived in Richland, Kansas for many years before moving to Berryton, Kansas in 1956. In 1961, she moved to Lawrence, Kansas where she lived in the home until moving to Brandon Woods Retirement Community in 2000. She moved to Brentwood in June 2002. Mrs. Allen was a switchboard operator for the Wakarusa Central Office, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Pratt. She later worked at the Neese grocery store in Richland, Kansas, the Hollywood-Maxwell factory in Topeka and for 15 years for the state of Kansas Department of Revenue in Topeka. She married Walter D. Allen on February 21, 1928. He preceded her in death on October 14, 1988. Mrs. Allen also was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Bertru; and a sister, Eva Bell. Survivors include a sister, Glenola Hamaker, Osage City, Kansas; three children, Betty I. Phillips, Brentwood, Waynd D. Allen and his wife, Julie, San Jose, California and Judith E. Prestridge and her husband, Robert, Hot Springs Village, Arkansas; six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and much-loved nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Thursday at Penwell-Gabel Highland Chapel in Topeka. Mrs. Allen will lie in state at the funeral chapel during visitation from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, southeast of Topeka. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Sutter VNA & Hospice and sent in care of the funeral chapel, 2843 S.E. Minnesota Ave., Topeka, Kansas 66605.