Julia “Dickie” Allen; Active Citizen

Julia “Dickie” Allen, a resident of Pacific Palisades since 1957, passed away at home on July 7. She was 89. Born in Seattle, Washington, on September 29, 1915, to Arthur Garretson Searle and Julia Albee Dickie Searle, Dickie was the eldest sister of Harriet Lee Searle Jackson, deceased, and Margaret Jean Searle Richardson of Danville, California. In 1927, the family relocated from Seattle to the San Francisco area. Dickie met Thornton Van Nuys Allen, Jr., in 1943 in the control tower at Treasure Island while working for Pan American Airways. Dickie worked for the Division Manager and Van was a navigator aboard the “Clipper” seaplanes. She often spoke about “Clipper Glory” and said that working together at Pan Am was one of the happiest times in their lives. Dickie and Van married December 2, 1944, moved to Southern California in 1947, and celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last winter. Their children, Terry and Sarah, attended St. Matthew’s School, Paul Revere and Palisades High. Dickie had a B.A. in English from UC Berkeley and loved to read. In addition to tutoring remedial reading for students in L.A. public schools, she was a library volunteer and an expert writer whose letters to the editor were published in the Los Angeles Times and Time magazine. Proud of her Scottish heritage, Dickie was a longtime member of the St. Andrews’ Society. She served for many years on the Wedding Guild at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Pacific Palisades and was an active member of many organizations, including the Assistance League of Southern California, the Salvation Army, Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles and the Sierra Club. She cherished her friends and family. In addition to her beloved husband, Dickie is survived by her son Terry V. Allen (wife Diane) of Port Ludlow, Washington, and her daughter Sarah Lee Allen (husband Raymond Poblick) of Brentwood. A memorial service will be held at St. Matthew’s today, July 21, at 10 a.m. Donations to the Salvation Army will be appreciated.