Obituaries: Harwell L. Allen, 1978, Winn Parish, LA. Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From: May 16, 1973 Winn Parish Enterprise News-American Judge Allen Dies, Rites Held Sunday Funeral services were held Sunday for Judge Harwell L. Allen who died Friday morning in a Houston hospital following an apparent heart attack. Judge Allen had served the 8th Judicial District of Winn and Grant Parishes since 1954 when he was appointed to fill the unexpired term of the late Judge Cas Moss when he retired. Judge Allen took office September 26, 1954 and was elected when that term ended in 1960. He was re-elected in 1966 and in 1972. Judge Allen had just completed a one year term as Grand Master of Louisiana Masons, highest office in state Masonic work. He was the son of the late U. S. Congressman A. Leonard Allen, a lawyer, who served the old 8th Congressional District from 1936 until 1952. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Elaine Smith Wells Allen of Winnfield, a son, Douglas Harwell Allen of Baton Rouge, two daughters, Mrs. Frank C. Breese III, Princeton, NJ, and Mrs. Stephen K. Smith, Houston, and his mother, Mrs. Lottie Thompson Allen, Winnfield, and a grandson. Judge Allen was born October 1, 1916 in Bernice, Louisiana. He attended the Winnfield public schools, Louisiana Tech, and Louisiana College, earning his A.B. degree in 1936. He then enrolled in the George Washington University Law School and received his LLB degree in 1940. He was admitted to the Louisiana bar in 1941. Military Service In May, 1941 he joined the United States Adjutant General's Office as a second lieutenant and served five years. Forty-two months of his service was in Europe. He was a colonel when discharged. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star, and he was decorated by Great Britain, France, Holland, and Belgium. Masonic Service He began his association with the Masonic Order in Winnfield and rose to the top office in the state in February, 1972, when he became Grand Master of the Louisiana Masons. Judge Allen's first degrees in the Masonic order were taken in Winnfield. On July 3, 1946 he became a Master Mason in the Eastern Star Lodge No. 151 in Winnfield and he was serving as Worshipful Master of that Lodge in 1966 when the Winnfield Masonic Temple was constructed. Judge Allen was also a member of the Winnfield Chapter, No. 59, Royal Arch Masons, Winnfield Council No. 43, Royal and Select Masters, Bethlehem Commandery No. 21, Knights Templar, El Karubah Shrine Temple. He was also a member of the Monroe Consistory, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry and was named Inspector General Honorary, 33rd Degree in October, 1969 in rites in Washington, D.C. In February, 1969 he became Grand Junior Warden of the Grand Lodge of Louisiana and filled each successive office being installed as Grand Master, Louisiana Masons, on February 8, 1972. Judge Allen was a member of the Winnfield First Baptist church, where he had taught a Sunday School class for the past 25 years. Services Funeral services were conducted in the First Baptist Church Sunday at 4 p.m. with the pastor, Rev. Calvin Phelps and Eugene Love officiating. There were Masonic graveside rites. Serving as pallbearers from the church to the graveside were Latnie Brewton, Dr. George M. Rodgers, Matt Milam, Jr., Puckett Willis, W. Warren Allen, Jr., and Dr. T. Scott Strickland. Honorary pallbearers were Warren Allen, Sr., Dr. Dee A Strickland, Grover Covington, Cas D. Moss, Dickie Heard, Willard Kilpatrick, C. J. Erskins, Jr., George Tannehill, members of the Eastern Star Lodge No. 151, lawyers in the 8th Judicial District, Winn and Grant Parish Courthouse officials, the Kingdom Builders Sunday School Class of First Baptist Church, officials of the Grand Lodge. The Masonic Grand Funeral March was led by Louisiana Grand Master N. H. McClamrock, Jr., Past Grand Masters Dee A. Strickland, L. V. Noles, T. Scott Strickland, Grover C. Covington, D. Allen Long, Howard Seigler. The Grand Marshall was Eugene Love. Members assigned to carry the body during the march were Lyndal Stanfill, John Arnold, Al Lauret, Marvin Harrell, John Bandezelski, Hewey Walker, W. L. Aldrich, R. D. Jones, Ray Hebert, Cliff Whitehead, Denver Fox, Glynn Smith, Raymond Dubois. Burial was in the Winnfield Cemetery under the direction of Hixson Brothers Funeral Home, Winnfield.