Mildred Irene Petefish Allen

Private graveside services for Mildred Irene Petefish Allen, 95, Baldwin City, will be Friday at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Mrs. Allen died Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010, at Pioneer Ridge Retirement Community.

She was born Jan. 1, 1915, in the Sigel neighborhood of rural Douglas County, the daughter of Alva E. and Daisy Hickock Petefish.  She graduated from Sigel School in 1928, and from Liberty Memorial High School in 1932.  She later attended Lawrence Business College.

Mrs. Allen was employed by Standard Mutual Life Insurance Company for 28 years as a Legal Secretary.  She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Baldwin City, and was a charter member of United Methodist Women.  She held various positions in the local, district, and conference of United Methodist Women.  She was a member of the Evangeline Chapter of Order of the Eastern Star, and was Worthy Matron Grand page and District Aide, Past Matrons, and Chapter CK of P.E.O., the American Legion Auxiliary, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, Leisure Hour, Santa Fe Historical Society, Douglas County Historical Society, Kansas State Historical Society, the American Association of Retired Persons, Charter member of Baldwin City Business and Professional Women’s Club, Rebekah Lodge, Kansas Alumni Association, Douglas County Republican Women, and Farm and Country Republican Women.  She served as chairman of the Baldwin City Bicentennial Committee, and served as a Republican Precinct Committeewoman for many years.  She was past president of the Women’s Kansas Day Club, a member of West Side Study Club, the 40 and 8 Salon No. 512, the National Federation of Republican Women, and the Red Hat Society.

She married Richard F. Allen on Aug. 22, 1952, in Topeka.  They resided in Baldwin City.  He died Mar. 29, 1993.  He was an attorney and served in the Kansas Legislature in the 1950’s.

She is preceded in death by one brother George Petefish and 3 sisters, Marie Johnson, Mae Cox and Faye Goff.

Survivors include a stepson, Ralph C. Allen and wife Kathy, El Cajon, Calif.; a stepdaughter, Georgianna Tait, Scottsdale, Ariz.; several step-grandchildren, several step-great-grandchildren; several nephews, including Rex Johnson and wife Shirley, Clinton, and George Goff, Lawrence; and several nieces, including Berniece Kennedy, Lawrence, and Doris Wingert and husband Lloyd, Lawrence.

Friends may call from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, where the family will receive them from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The family suggests memorial contributions to Grace Hospice, in care of the funeral home, 601 Ind., Lawrence, KS, 66044.

Online condolences may be sent at www.rumsey-yost.com.