SR0488 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0488 LRB097 15563 KXB 60700 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Roberta Brabant Allen of Godfrey, who passed away on December 9, 2011; and

WHEREAS, "Berta," as she was known, was born April 17, 1912, in Pleasanton, Kansas, and graduated with honors from the University of Kansas with a degree in journalism in 1932, while working as treasurer of 3 different sororities to pay her tuition; she met her future husband, Dr. Hubert Lee Allen Jr., at the University of Kansas; and

WHEREAS, She lived in Fort Scott, Kansas, raising her children while Lt. Col. Allen was director of a MASH Unit during World War II for 4 years in the South Pacific; the family has an amazing collection of over 2,000 letters they exchanged which reflect the effect of the war and years of long separation on their small family; they moved to Alton upon Dr. Allen's return from overseas; and

WHEREAS, She served on the Alton woman's Home Board, Community Service League, AAUW, Alton Planning Commission, and was a member of PEO Chapter IL; she loved gardening and enjoyed the piano and violin; she enjoyed reminiscing about her years of growing up in a small Kansas farm community and laughed about being Captain of her high school basketball team, the Pleasanton Blue Jays; and

WHEREAS, She was preceded in death by her husband; her son, Hubert L. Allen III; her grandson, Hubert Lee Allen IV; and her daughter-in-law, Beverly Allen; and

WHEREAS, Roberta Allen was the beloved mother of the late Hubert Lee Allen III (Marion), Benjamin B. Allen (Trudi), and Christopher C. Allen (Rosie); she was the loving grandmother to Geoffrey Allen, Benjamin Allen Jr., Peter Allen (Gina), Betsy Puent (John), Cade Miller (Metaxia), Spencer Allen (Rachel), Stephanie Allen (Fabrizio), and Bryce Allen; she was the beloved great-grandmother of Geoffrey and Ashley Allen, Hunter Wyatt and Hubert Phog Allen, Lily, Claire, and Jack Puent, Lilliana Miller, Amelia, and Charles Allen; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Roberta Allen; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Roberta Allen as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.