Taylor Funeral Home

Obituaries
Thomas L. "T.L." Allen
Date of Death or Service Mar 25, 2018
Thomas L.
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 Funeral services will be conducted Sunday afternoon, March 25, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. from the chapel of the Taylor Funeral Home. Bobby Speight, longtime friend, and Donna Rigdon, his niece, will be giving words of comfort and sharing memories. Visitation will be Saturday evening from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and on Sunday beginning at 11:00 a.m. until time of service. Place of rest will be in the Dickson County Memorial Gardens. Military Honors will be observed in the chapel following services.

Those desiring, memorials are suggested to the Rock Church Cemetery Fund.
 Mr. Allen, age 94, of Charlotte, TN died peacefully March 22, 2018 at The Meadows in Nashville after a short stay.

The world has last a kind, kind man whose impact was felt far beyond his beloved farm in the Rock Church community near Charlotte, Tennessee to the battlefields of Italy during WWII and businesses small and large throughout the South.

Thomas Lee (Tom to some and TL to others) Allen was born July 7, 1923 in the Mt. Lebanon Community of Dickson County to Frank and Metta Irene Hooper Allen.  The Frank Allen Farm was acquired in 1907, and for more than 100 years, the lovely white home with its red roof and distinctive springhouse in the front yard has served as the family’s beloved seat.

Tom graduated from Charlotte High School in 1942; after graduation, he enrolled at Tennessee Technological Institute in Cookeville.  Following his freshman year, he was drafted into the US Army and served during WWII in the European Theater from 1943 to 1945.  During the war, he was engaged in battle: first, in the Battle of Anzio, part of the Italian Campaign of World War II that took place from January 22, 1944–with the Allied amphibious landing known as Operation Shingle–to June 5, 1944, with the capture of Rome.  He spoke rarely about these horrific 136 days of his life; however, with great emotion, he described a portion of time that he was stationed on a mountainside with a machine gun and endured the reality that many of his friends had died alongside him.  His unit marched through Rome and was stationed in Northern Italy for the remainder of the War.  It was here that Tom was influenced by the beauty of the countryside in Tuscany and developed his lifelong joy of building rock walls.  Near the end of the War in Europe, he happened to pass through the small village of Giulino di Mezzegra in northern Italy and solemnly disclosed that he had witnessed the executed former Italian Dictator Benito Mussolini hanging by his heels.  Tom was awarded the Bronze Star, the WW2 Victory Medal, and the Combat Infantry Badge for his bravery.

Upon his return home, he completed his studies at Tennessee Tech where he earned his BS in Accounting.  He also attended graduate school at the University of Minnesota and the University of Houston.

Tom worked at Tennessee Products and Chemical Company in Pasadena Texas after receiving his education. He returned to Nashville in the early 1960s and began a 20-year career at Ingram Industries. He later opened an office in Charlotte where he provided accounting services for companies such as Concrete Structures, Eubank Paving, Lid’l Dolly Dresses, and local citizens and farmers.  Tom continued to maintain office hours, advise, and prepare tax returns for clients until three months before his 90th birthday.

Tom Allen loved Charlotte, Tennessee, the Court Square, his manicured farm, long white fences, hand laid rock walls, red roofs on white buildings, red geraniums, football, fresh vegetables, coconut cake, farmers, his family, and his many friends.

Tom was an encourager of all.  Regardless of one’s station in life, Tom Allen was a reliable friend, advisor, and counselor.  To all who knew him, he will be remembered as a true southern gentleman.

He was a lifelong member of Rock Church of Christ.

 Survived by:  Sister, Sammie Allen Corbitt, age 98 of Port Charlotte, FL, Nieces and nephews, Serena Gail Forsgren, Larry “Butch” Corbitt, Donna Allen Rigdon, Kenny Allen, Patty Barcomb and Alan Barcomb, Many great nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews, and great-great-great nieces and nephews who loved him dearly.

Preceded in death, in addition to his parents:  Brothers, Douglas Allen of Charlotte, James F. “Bo” Allen and Donald Allen of Dickson.  Sister, Mildred Barcomb of Nashville.

Active casket bearers will be: Dan Eubank, Phil Heath, Tim Weatherspoon, Ralph Armstrong, Jimmy Duke and Kenny Allen.  Honorary casket bearers will be: Donna Hall, Jean Larkins, Juanita Adams, Mike Eubank, Bob Denny, Buddy Hayes, Jimmy Story, Kurt Vandivort, Tom Anderson, Ken Crow, Curtis Petty, Gabby Hayes, Raymond Spann and David Blair.

 

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