Maxine Bednar Allen, 91, passed away July 13, 2011, of natural causes at Olathe Medical Center, Olathe, Kan. She leaves her two daughters, Linda Kay Nelson and Brenda Fay Eicher and their families. Maxine's husband, William Allen, passed June 16, 2011. The two were married almost 65 years. The family is at peace knowing they are together again in heaven. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, July 15, at D.W. Newcomer's Sons Overland Park Chapel, 8201 Metcalf, Overland Park, KS 66204. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 16, at Grace United Methodist Church, 11485 S Ridgeview Rd, Olathe, with burial to follow at Johnson County Memorial Gardens, 11200 Metcalf, Overland Park. Memorial gifts in honor of Maxine Allen may be given to the Johnson County Community College Foundation. Born in Manly, Iowa, Maxine met William while volunteering for the American Red Cross. The two married and moved to Kansas. Maxine received her B.S. in Elementary Education and Child Development as well as her M.S. emphasis in Administration of Elementary Education from the University of Kansas, respectively. Maxine was a pioneer in elementary education in Johnson County and was listed in "Who's Who in Educational Administration." Maxine served as a teacher, principal or administrator over her 45 years in the education. She spent 30 years of her work across 47 elementary schools through the Shawnee Mission School District. A former airline hostess with Mid-Continent Airlines, she began her teaching career in Iowa and came to Shawnee Mission in 1955. In 1967, Maxine became the nation's first director of the federal Learning Disability Title III program, which later led to her directorship of Specific Learning Disabilities in the Shawnee Mission School District. Maxine authored numerous books and publications on elementary education and remained an active contributor to elementary education endeavors long after her retirement. Maxine was an amazing leader in the Johnson County community. She was a charter member of the Johnson County Community College Board of Trustees and served on the College Foundation. She remained active at the JCCC by attending the Foundation Board's events and the JCCC Gala. Attending the JCCC Gala was always Maxine and William's big event of the year. Maxine was a Johnson County Library Board of Trustee member serving two terms. She was a supportive force in many of the library system's expansive endeavors including the Edgerton library branch in Edgerton, Kan. Maxine was a political cornerstone in Republican leadership in Johnson County. She was a Kansas delegate for numerous Republican National Conventions. She was a founding member of the Republican Precinct Committee for Women and a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution as well. Maxine was also a proud member of the following organizations: National Association for Children with Learning Disabilities, Johnson County Mental Health Association, Special Education Instructional Materials Center (University of Kansas), Kansas Department of Elementary Principals, National Department of Elementary Principals, Life Member of National Education Association (NEA), Delta Kappa Gamma - Beta Mu Chapter, American Association of University Women, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (NEA), Johnson County Navy League Auxiliary and a member of P.E.O. for 51 years. Share a memory, sign an online guestbook, or express your condolences at www.overlandparkchapel.com D

Published in Kansas City Star on July 15, 2011