Obit of Allen, Gerald Lee - Oklahoma County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 02 Nov 2008 Return to Oklahoma County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/oklahoma/oklahoma.html ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::NOT LISTED Allen, Gerald Lee GERALD LEE ALLEN April 7, 1931-November 19, 2006 Died at home in Hayward, California, surrounded by his much loved sisters Jessie and Nancy and his family, aged 75. He is survived by his loving wife of 30 years, Gaela; his sisters Leona, Martha, Marilyn, Jessie, and Nancy; his first wife Joan and their four children Leslie, Holly, Jennifer, and Drew, and six grandchildren, Anka, Lucas, Stasi, Simon, Noah and Jemma. Gerry lived in Hayward for the last 15 years, where he and his wife Gaela operated Nave's Supply, the construction tools and materials business his mother and stepfather Earl Nave founded in 1959. He was born in Oklahoma City to Leon and Geraldine Allen. They moved to Livermore, CA when Gerald was seven. During WW II, he spent two very happy years living with his maternal grandparents on their farm in Guthrie, OK. Later he returned to Ca. where he graduated from Albany High in 1950. He became interested in science as a young boy. He considered a career of Mining Engineering as a result of many happy summers spent working on a gold mining claim his mother and stepfather had in Placer County, Ca. His working career began in 1951, 800 feet underground in the Nevada -Massachusetts Tungsten mine near Winnemucca, Nevada, and at the Anaconda Copper Mine, in Butte Montana. He also worked as a fire suppression crewman during a busy fire season in 1951 in Plumas National Forest. During 1951-1952 he had a work study grant for 6 months at Point Mugu Naval Air Missile Test Center, Ca. He enjoyed this period as he got to work on some of the guided missiles in the very early days. In 1952 he enrolled at UC Berkeley in Engineering Physics, and worked on campus at Crocker Radiation Laboratory, where he was an accelerator operator on the 60" Cyclotron which was used by Dr Al Ghiorso and his team in the discovery of Element 101. He was drafted into the U.S. Army. October 1954, spending a year and a half in the Panama Canal Zone, before being discharged in July 1956 at the rank of SP-3. He returned to UC Berkeley and changed his major to Ceramic Engineering with a minor in Physics. He graduated from UC Berkeley in 1958 with BS in Ceramic (now Materials Science) Engineering. His and Joan's four children were born between 1956 and 1961. They and their families were always dearly loved and close to his heart. The following 53 years were equally marked by continuous scientific research and contributions. He worked in research and development in San Diego, Ca., in Grand Island, New York state, and then in New Zealand from 1971-1987. His first marriage ended in 1974. He later met and married Gaela Mair on November 7 1976. After retirement he continued to consult in CA and NZ and also assisted his aging mother with her business in Hayward. Gerald had a scientific mind and a lifelong insatiable intellectual curiosity that resulted in the creation of many practical inventions, some of which he patented. His knowledge was wide ranging and eclectic. His drive to achieve propelled him on in spite of numerous health challenges over the past 20 years. Numerous and diverse design ideas and inventive projects were always underway at home. Development of alternative energy and building materials were special interests. Gerry loved agriculture and horticulture; and inventing, developing, and building his ideas. He was especially proud of two homes he designed for his family, that were built in 1960 and 2005 He enjoyed talking science with friends and family; was generous in sharing his expertise, knowledge and hands-on-help; loved panning for gold, camping and nature; photography; classical music, singing especially from the musicals Richard Rodgers collaborated in; and the humor of classic comedians. In his youth his hobbies included folk dancing and lapidary. Until the most recent decline of his health, he was an active member of the Unitarian Church, as well as a lifelong member of Rotary International. His wife Gaela would like to take this opportunity to thank all our friends who were so active in supporting and assisting Gerald to achieve his dreams and goals, in New Zealand and California. She would also like to thank their dear friends Orvis Kaufman and Doris Perez for their unstinting help and generosity to her and Gerry over the past 15 years, not only in helping to keep Nave's Supply open while Gerry attended doctor appointments, or was hospitalized, but in the myriad of other ways they have helped. Thank you also to Dr Folsom and staff at Carepoint Medical Center, and to the dedicated and caring specialists in Ca. and NZ. who were so instrumental in the management of Gerald's multiple interlocking health problems for so many years. The family have held a private memorial service. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Gerry's name to a charitable association of your choice. A memory book will be kept at Nave's Supply premises should anyone care to contribute thoughts or reminiscences of Gerry. This will build a lasting memory to pass on to his family and interested friends. Correspondence address: C/- Nave's Supply Co.,21965 Meekland Ave, Hayward, Ca. 94541-3862, U.S.A. Published in the ANG Newspapers on 12/10/2006. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Oklahoma County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/oklahoma/oklahoma.html