Ashael "Lester" Allen
1923 - 2014
VETERAN
Early Life: Lester was born September 24, 1923, in Los Angeles to Charles Ashael and Ida Lillywhite Allen. Lester was raised in Los Angeles and graduated from Eagle Rock High School in 1941.
Life's Work | Service | Interests: Lester met his best friend and eternal companion, Marilyn Murphy, and they were married in the Mesa Arizona Temple on December 29, 1943. Lester was commissioned an officer in the Army Air Corp and served during World War II in the Panama Canal Zone. After the war, he graduated with a PhD from UCLA and taught at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California. In 1954, he was hired by BYU and worked there as a faculty member for 35 years; excelling as a research scientist, teacher and administrator. During his tenure he served as chairman of the Zoology department, and as Dean of the College of Biological & Agricultural Sciences. Dr. Allen was revered by his colleagues and loved and respected by the thousands of students he taught. Lester and Marilyn moved to Orem in 1955 where they raised their family and developed many close friendships over the years. They were blessed with eleven children. Lester was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served faithfully in many callings. He was called three times as a bishop, and served missions with Marilyn as his companion to London, Mississippi and Baltimore. He also served at the Seniors MTC and in the Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple. His greatest legacy was his great kindness and love for all of God's children. He was meek and gentle, a true disciple of Christ. Lester was a man ahead of his time. As an equal partner with Marilyn, he nurtured children, scrubbed floors and even cooked for their large family, rare activities for men of his generation. Both Lester and Marilyn had a great love of the outdoors and spent many outings together in the mountains of Utah camping, fishing, hiking, hunting and snowshoeing. Lester taught his posterity and many others the wonders of nature and an appreciation for God's creations. He had a great love for classical music, fine arts and sports. Lester spent many hours reading; he especially loved studying the scriptures with Marilyn. He had a singular come home whistle, a unique way of communicating with babies and was known for his infectious and warm smile. Ashael "Lester" Allen returned to his heavenly home March 4, 2014. He was 90 years old.
Survived By: His children: Katie McCarty (Gordon Jennings), Christy (Chuck) Ackerson, Charley (Suzy) Allen, Ben (Monica) Allen, Jane (Joe) Quinn, Andy (Renae) Allen, Nancy (Bruce) Tregaskis, Barbara Allen, Richard (Jeanne) Allen, Bonnie (Curt) James and Mark (Kate) Allen; 51 grandchildren, 120 great-grandchildren, and a total posterity that currently numbers 238.
Preceded In Death By: His beloved wife, Marilyn; his parents; two sisters: Donetta and Elma; and one brother, George.
Obituary: The Daily Herald | Provo, Utah | 7 Mar 2014
Services: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Chapel Location: Orchard Stake Center | Orem, Utah
Arranged By: Walker Sanderson Funeral Home
Interment: Orem City Cemetery
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
1923 - 2014
VETERAN
Early Life: Lester was born September 24, 1923, in Los Angeles to Charles Ashael and Ida Lillywhite Allen. Lester was raised in Los Angeles and graduated from Eagle Rock High School in 1941.
Life's Work | Service | Interests: Lester met his best friend and eternal companion, Marilyn Murphy, and they were married in the Mesa Arizona Temple on December 29, 1943. Lester was commissioned an officer in the Army Air Corp and served during World War II in the Panama Canal Zone. After the war, he graduated with a PhD from UCLA and taught at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California. In 1954, he was hired by BYU and worked there as a faculty member for 35 years; excelling as a research scientist, teacher and administrator. During his tenure he served as chairman of the Zoology department, and as Dean of the College of Biological & Agricultural Sciences. Dr. Allen was revered by his colleagues and loved and respected by the thousands of students he taught. Lester and Marilyn moved to Orem in 1955 where they raised their family and developed many close friendships over the years. They were blessed with eleven children. Lester was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served faithfully in many callings. He was called three times as a bishop, and served missions with Marilyn as his companion to London, Mississippi and Baltimore. He also served at the Seniors MTC and in the Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple. His greatest legacy was his great kindness and love for all of God's children. He was meek and gentle, a true disciple of Christ. Lester was a man ahead of his time. As an equal partner with Marilyn, he nurtured children, scrubbed floors and even cooked for their large family, rare activities for men of his generation. Both Lester and Marilyn had a great love of the outdoors and spent many outings together in the mountains of Utah camping, fishing, hiking, hunting and snowshoeing. Lester taught his posterity and many others the wonders of nature and an appreciation for God's creations. He had a great love for classical music, fine arts and sports. Lester spent many hours reading; he especially loved studying the scriptures with Marilyn. He had a singular come home whistle, a unique way of communicating with babies and was known for his infectious and warm smile. Ashael "Lester" Allen returned to his heavenly home March 4, 2014. He was 90 years old.
Survived By: His children: Katie McCarty (Gordon Jennings), Christy (Chuck) Ackerson, Charley (Suzy) Allen, Ben (Monica) Allen, Jane (Joe) Quinn, Andy (Renae) Allen, Nancy (Bruce) Tregaskis, Barbara Allen, Richard (Jeanne) Allen, Bonnie (Curt) James and Mark (Kate) Allen; 51 grandchildren, 120 great-grandchildren, and a total posterity that currently numbers 238.
Preceded In Death By: His beloved wife, Marilyn; his parents; two sisters: Donetta and Elma; and one brother, George.
Obituary: The Daily Herald | Provo, Utah | 7 Mar 2014
Services: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Chapel Location: Orchard Stake Center | Orem, Utah
Arranged By: Walker Sanderson Funeral Home
Interment: Orem City Cemetery
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
Ashael "Lester" Allen
1923 - 2014
VETERAN
Early Life: Lester was born September 24, 1923, in Los Angeles to Charles Ashael and Ida Lillywhite Allen. Lester was raised in Los Angeles and graduated from Eagle Rock High School in 1941.
Life's Work | Service | Interests: Lester met his best friend and eternal companion, Marilyn Murphy, and they were married in the Mesa Arizona Temple on December 29, 1943. Lester was commissioned an officer in the Army Air Corp and served during World War II in the Panama Canal Zone. After the war, he graduated with a PhD from UCLA and taught at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California. In 1954, he was hired by BYU and worked there as a faculty member for 35 years; excelling as a research scientist, teacher and administrator. During his tenure he served as chairman of the Zoology department, and as Dean of the College of Biological & Agricultural Sciences. Dr. Allen was revered by his colleagues and loved and respected by the thousands of students he taught. Lester and Marilyn moved to Orem in 1955 where they raised their family and developed many close friendships over the years. They were blessed with eleven children. Lester was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served faithfully in many callings. He was called three times as a bishop, and served missions with Marilyn as his companion to London, Mississippi and Baltimore. He also served at the Seniors MTC and in the Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple. His greatest legacy was his great kindness and love for all of God's children. He was meek and gentle, a true disciple of Christ. Lester was a man ahead of his time. As an equal partner with Marilyn, he nurtured children, scrubbed floors and even cooked for their large family, rare activities for men of his generation. Both Lester and Marilyn had a great love of the outdoors and spent many outings together in the mountains of Utah camping, fishing, hiking, hunting and snowshoeing. Lester taught his posterity and many others the wonders of nature and an appreciation for God's creations. He had a great love for classical music, fine arts and sports. Lester spent many hours reading; he especially loved studying the scriptures with Marilyn. He had a singular come home whistle, a unique way of communicating with babies and was known for his infectious and warm smile. Ashael "Lester" Allen returned to his heavenly home March 4, 2014. He was 90 years old.
Survived By: His children: Katie McCarty (Gordon Jennings), Christy (Chuck) Ackerson, Charley (Suzy) Allen, Ben (Monica) Allen, Jane (Joe) Quinn, Andy (Renae) Allen, Nancy (Bruce) Tregaskis, Barbara Allen, Richard (Jeanne) Allen, Bonnie (Curt) James and Mark (Kate) Allen; 51 grandchildren, 120 great-grandchildren, and a total posterity that currently numbers 238.
Preceded In Death By: His beloved wife, Marilyn; his parents; two sisters: Donetta and Elma; and one brother, George.
Obituary: The Daily Herald | Provo, Utah | 7 Mar 2014
Services: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Chapel Location: Orchard Stake Center | Orem, Utah
Arranged By: Walker Sanderson Funeral Home
Interment: Orem City Cemetery
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
1923 - 2014
VETERAN
Early Life: Lester was born September 24, 1923, in Los Angeles to Charles Ashael and Ida Lillywhite Allen. Lester was raised in Los Angeles and graduated from Eagle Rock High School in 1941.
Life's Work | Service | Interests: Lester met his best friend and eternal companion, Marilyn Murphy, and they were married in the Mesa Arizona Temple on December 29, 1943. Lester was commissioned an officer in the Army Air Corp and served during World War II in the Panama Canal Zone. After the war, he graduated with a PhD from UCLA and taught at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California. In 1954, he was hired by BYU and worked there as a faculty member for 35 years; excelling as a research scientist, teacher and administrator. During his tenure he served as chairman of the Zoology department, and as Dean of the College of Biological & Agricultural Sciences. Dr. Allen was revered by his colleagues and loved and respected by the thousands of students he taught. Lester and Marilyn moved to Orem in 1955 where they raised their family and developed many close friendships over the years. They were blessed with eleven children. Lester was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served faithfully in many callings. He was called three times as a bishop, and served missions with Marilyn as his companion to London, Mississippi and Baltimore. He also served at the Seniors MTC and in the Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple. His greatest legacy was his great kindness and love for all of God's children. He was meek and gentle, a true disciple of Christ. Lester was a man ahead of his time. As an equal partner with Marilyn, he nurtured children, scrubbed floors and even cooked for their large family, rare activities for men of his generation. Both Lester and Marilyn had a great love of the outdoors and spent many outings together in the mountains of Utah camping, fishing, hiking, hunting and snowshoeing. Lester taught his posterity and many others the wonders of nature and an appreciation for God's creations. He had a great love for classical music, fine arts and sports. Lester spent many hours reading; he especially loved studying the scriptures with Marilyn. He had a singular come home whistle, a unique way of communicating with babies and was known for his infectious and warm smile. Ashael "Lester" Allen returned to his heavenly home March 4, 2014. He was 90 years old.
Survived By: His children: Katie McCarty (Gordon Jennings), Christy (Chuck) Ackerson, Charley (Suzy) Allen, Ben (Monica) Allen, Jane (Joe) Quinn, Andy (Renae) Allen, Nancy (Bruce) Tregaskis, Barbara Allen, Richard (Jeanne) Allen, Bonnie (Curt) James and Mark (Kate) Allen; 51 grandchildren, 120 great-grandchildren, and a total posterity that currently numbers 238.
Preceded In Death By: His beloved wife, Marilyn; his parents; two sisters: Donetta and Elma; and one brother, George.
Obituary: The Daily Herald | Provo, Utah | 7 Mar 2014
Services: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Chapel Location: Orchard Stake Center | Orem, Utah
Arranged By: Walker Sanderson Funeral Home
Interment: Orem City Cemetery
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
