Shirley Allen

Shirley Marie Allen was born March 11, 1940, in South Webster, Ohio, the second of four children of Mable and Clyde Sparks, both faithful servants of Jehovah.

Shirley was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses at 10 years of age in a creek at Miller’s farm in Greenup, Kentucky. She was associated with several congregations on the west side of Columbus, most recently the Hilltop congregation. She was a fixture at meetings and encouraged many with her insightful comments and loyal example. For over seventy-six years, she regularly shared her faith, teaching others about Jehovah and His Kingdom. This included several years of full-time ministry.

Shirley met her late husband Bud shortly before graduating high school, and they married soon after. For almost sixty years they proved that two somewhat incompatible people can make a marriage work if they both love Jehovah and never give up. They started their family the next year with daughter Cindy, followed shortly by daughter Carla. They moved to Columbus and soon purchased the home where she still lived at the time of her death. After Bud’s death, Shirley enjoyed living on her own for the first time in her life, and never felt lonely.

The Allens turned annual summer conventions into family vacations, most notably to New York City and Toronto. They enjoyed seasonal camping trips to the Bob Evans Farm Festival in Rio Grande and to Deer Creek State Park. They also spent many hours working together on the London Assembly Hall building project in the early 1970’s. Shirley helped with much of the tile work in the foyer and bathrooms. She and Bud also volunteered many hours together on quick-build Kingdom Halls across Central Ohio. In addition, Shirley had the privilege of traveling with friends to London, Czech Republic, Italy, Greece and Columbia to attend international conventions and made many wonderful memories.

Shirley was a hard worker, excellent party organizer, seamstress, baker, and cook. She gave her best to everything she did and taught her daughters to do the same. She always wore a lipsticked smile on her face and had a willing heart to support others. Well known for her hospitality and generosity, Shirley helped many friends in need, whether with a temporary place to stay, a gift or a loan. Over the years she enjoyed traveling with girlfriends, square dancing, yard work and gardening, playing cards, working puzzles, reading, playing Scrabble, spending time with family and friends, and sometimes watching TV.

Shirley kept a large circle of people close to her heart and valued those relationships deeply. She never sought attention, but those who knew her appreciated her personality, her humor, and the unique perspective she brought to life. She was never one to complain and, even though her physical challenges were a struggle the last few years, she maintained a good spirit until her death on November 7, 2026.

Shirley firmly believed in all the Bible’s promises and looked forward to the time in the near future when Jehovah will welcome back the dead to a peaceful New World where there will be no more pain or suffering. She will be so happy to rejoin all her family and many friends when she is awakened from sleep with a perfect new body that won’t fail her.

Shirley was preceded in death by her loving husband, Albert “Bud” Allen, and granddaughter Brandy Brooks. She is survived by her daughters, Cindy (Mike) Drevs of St. Charles, Missouri, and Carla Hamilton of West Palm Beach, Florida; five grandchildren — Tyler Brooks, Micaela (Mike) Drevs, Ryan Lewis, Chris (Veronica) Lewis, and Sara Francis; six great-grandchildren — Riley Harris, Annabella Brooks, Brandy Drevs, Gerald Goslin, Lee Goslin, and Andrew Francis; sisters - Sharon (Kyle) Skaggs of Hilliard, Patricia (Dan) Pertuset of Columbus and Gloria Matzig of Aachen, Germany; very close family and friends - Arden (Jim) Loupe, Brock (Denise) Skaggs, and Lori and John Gray; and many other extended family members and close friends too numerous to list.

A special thanks to the staff at Wesley Glen and Wesley Hospice for the care, kindness, compassion and comfort they provided Shirley and her family in her final days.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on November 21, 2026 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 1401 Brown Road, Columbus, OH 43223, as well as being available to view on Zoom using Meeting ID 89843484920, password Attend1.