IN MEMORY OF
Photographer's Mate
LOUIS "JACK"ALLEN
Born April 11, 1927 CROMWELL, KY
Deceased August 18, 2011
Service Dates
Unknown
Louis "Jack" Allen, 84, of Lufkin passed away August 18, 2011. He was born in Cromwell, Kentucky on April 11, 1927 to Manassie (Rains) and Louis Jackson Allen, Sr. Jack enlisted in the United States Navy in 1944. He was a veteran of both WW II and the Korean War. As a naval photographer, he witnessed many historical events through the lens of a camera. Of the more notable events, he took reconnaissance photos during the Cuban Revolution and the Bay of Pigs and he served as the lead photographer when the USS INTREPID recovered the first Gemini two-man space capsule. His Gemini photos appeared on the cover of LIFE magazine. He retired to Lufkin after 22 years of service in the Navy and opened Photo World Photography, which he owned and operated for 15 years, retiring again in 1981. Jack loved to travel. He spent time traveling through all 50 states just to enjoy the beautiful country that he loved so much. In his spare time, he converted Silver Eagle motor coaches into luxury motor homes. He was a member of the Bible Survey Class at Denman Avenue Baptist Church. Jack is survived by his wife, Lou Allen of Lufkin; daughter, Linda Murray and her husband Brad of Keller, TX; son, Jimmie Allen and his wife Annie of Sequin, TX; son, Larry Allen of Tarpley, TX; and daughter, Martha Miles and her husband David of Lufkin, TX; grandchildren, Dr. Tonya Ferguson, Casey Millspaugh, Brian Phelps, Keith Phelps, Kristy Fancher, Amy Landon, Whitney Allen, Pari Allen, Caitlin Allen, Rene Rangel, Nicollette Gibson and Brandon Gibson; a very special great-grandson, Kayden Ferguson; 5 other great-grandchildren; and niece, Barbara Allen of Wooster, Ohio. Mr. Allen is preceded in death by his parents, 2 brothers and 1 sister.