Frances ‘Fran’ Allen

Frances “Fran” Allen, 81, Greencastle, died Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016 at Asbury Towers.

Born in Greencastle Jan. 7, 1935, she was the daughter of Robert and Thelma (Myers) Johns. She and her husband Bayard Allen had lived on the north side of Greencastle Township since 1959, raising their family and operating a small farm there.

She was a 1952 graduate of Greencastle High School and a secretary to Dean Farber of DePauw University, several general managers of IBM and other local employers over four decades. She also assisted her husband in the bookkeeping for the family business.

Fran was an active member of the congregations of Brick Chapel United Methodist Church, First Christian Church of Greencastle and Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church. In retirement she served as treasurer of the Putnam County Hospital Guild, and was very dedicated to her garden, woodlands and conservation on her farm.

She married Bayard L. Allen in 1959. He survives her as well as daughter Beth Pierson and her husband John, of Omaha, Neb., son Bob Allen of New York and two granddaughters Megan Pierson and Nicole Pierson and her husband Stephen Odom. Also surviving are sisters Suzanne (Tub) Mace of Brazil and Janet (John) Aker of Owensboro, Ky., and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and son Michael.

Bittles and Hurt Funeral Home on Washington St. in Greencastle will host visitation hours Friday from 4-7 p.m. There will be a memorial service at Gobin United Methodist Church at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Putnam County Hospital Guild or the Student Summer Enrichment Program, both in care of the Putnam County Community Foundation at 2 S. Jackson St. in Greencastle.