Robert L. Allen Jr.

Rock Hill, SC – Mr. Robert (Bob) L. Allen Jr., 93, passed away Tuesday, September 13, 2022, at his home. Bob was born November 24, 1928, in Rock Hill, SC, son to the late Robert Leslie Allen Sr. and Lucille G. Allen.

A graveside service will be held Friday, September 16, 2022 at 2:30 pm at Grandview Memorial Park-Cherry Road, 620 S. Cherry Road, Rock Hill, SC 29732. The family will greet friends following the service at the graveside.

He grew up during the Great Depression and learned to value faith and family. Bob graduated from Winthrop Training School and participated in basketball, football, and baseball. While still a student there, he went to work at RHP & Finishing Co. until he went to work at Record Printing Co. and after 19 yrs. became affiliated with Unico Business Forms in Waxhaw, NC, where he became Vice President of the company.

Bob was married to the late Geraldine (Jerri) Mullis Allen in June 1949, and they enjoyed 71 years of marriage. As members of Northside Baptist Church, they served as youth coordinators for 13 years and in other capacities in their church. They were known affectionately to many generations of youth as “Gran Jerri” and “Gran Bobby.” Bob was a long-time active member of Northside Baptist Church serving several terms as an ordained deacon, a Royal Ambassador leader, an usher, and on several other committees. He also worked on many church and community projects.

After coordinating many youth group trips to “Camp Pla-Mor” at Windy Hill Beach, Jerri and Bob, along with nine other stockholders, purchased the Christian youth camp and changed the name to “Christos Village”, where they served as the directors. They worked diligently to upgrade and operate the facility and its ministry until their retirement in 2001.

He and Jerri enjoyed traveling together in their RV and were active in SC Campers on Mission and SC Disaster Relief. They worked on many mission assignments all over the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. They had the opportunity to travel to all the states in the US, with the exception of Idaho. He and Jerri received a commendation from the SC Baptist Convention for distinguished service to SC Disaster Relief Ministries and the SC Campers on Mission Work.

Bob loved to garden and to share the bounty of that work with family and friends. He was an avid sports fan and he loved camping. He took his family on many camping trips, an activity that he, his wife, and grandchildren enjoyed doing together.

Bob was a man who loved his God and loved his family. Bob was known as “Grandbobby” to his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and to the youth of Northside Baptist and Christos Village. He was a loving friend to many, husband, father, and grandfather. He would help anyone in need with a kind word, a meal, and some “grand-fatherly” advice. He was a man of deep faith in God, had an amazing sense of humor, and was loved by so many.

Bob is survived by his sons, Robert L. Allen, III. “Buzz” (Karen Harris); Kevin Kelly Allen (Christy); grandchildren, Tommy A. Palmer (Shelly); Wendy P. Caughey (Jeff); Hanna A. Ham (Bruce); Mary Catherine (Katie) Allen (Zach; Fiancé); Nikki A. McIsaac (Joe); English A. McCoughlum (Zach); and Silas J. Allen; great-grandchildren, Amber C. Edmonds (Josh); Brett M. Bess (Amber), Bryson M. Bess; Knox and Josie McIsaac and Baxter M. Ham; step-great grandchildren, V. Michael Dunn; great-great-grandchildren, Aubree Edmonds; Lee Helms and Braelyn Clendinin; Brantley Bess and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Margaret A. Ayers (Julius) and “Snooks” A. Ferrell (Oria), his daughter, Deborah Allen Pruitt and his grandson, Jason S. Palmer.