In loving memory of Virginia Rae Allen Gilbert Douglas Allen 

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On Aug. 1, Virginia Rae Allen passed away peacefully in Washougal, Washington. In death as in life, she was surrounded by family. She was a compass to family and friends and lived her life with an overabundance of compassion for any who needed help….. and made sure her kids and grandkids knew what that meant. 

“Jitter” always found a place in her home and her heart for people that “strayed” into her life. She was a champion for those marginalized and she let it be known if she felt someone was being mistreated. 

She was a graduate of Lower Columbia College majoring in business. She used the degree to get an insurance job in Longview. Later on she found her calling at Biggs Insurance in Vancouver selling bonds to contractors in the area. 

Her knowledge of “who was who” in her extended family was legendary. She knew 1st, 2nd, 3rd cousins, aunts and uncles for almost everybody… even on Gilbert’s side of the family. 

She made the best pancakes in the world with a recipe handed down from her great-grandmother. 

Virginia is preceded in death by her husband Gilbert Allen and sister Dixie White, and survived by her children Steve Allen, Laura Nelson, Jon Allen, Bruce Allen and David Allen. 

In lieu of flowers please donate to your charity of choice in Virginia's name. 

Gilbert Douglas Allen died on May 18, 2022 in Vancouver. Born in 1933, he was 88 years and lived most of his life in Woodland. Gil met Virginia Richardson in high school in Kalama and they were married in December 1953. He died peacefully of natural causes with a family member holding his hand. 

Gilbert was Woodland through and through. He opened a barber shop in the 60's in the former Eager Beaver building downtown. He was a Woodland volunteer firefighter, a member of the Woodland JC’s club and a Woodland city employee. 

Gil served in the Army during the Korean war and helped Virginia raise four boys and a girl. He rarely missed a baseball game, football game or any other event that his kids participated in. 

Gilbert was preceded in death by his sister Janice and brother George and survived by his kids Steve Allen, Laura Nelson, Jon Allen, Bruce Allen and David Allen and his sister Florence Lee Theoe. Virginia, his wife of 68 years, also recently passed away. 

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Woodland firefighters. 

A memorial for Gilbert will be held on Sept. 24 at 11:00 a.m. at the Woodland Presbyterian Church. A musical celebration of life will also be held for Virginia at Woodland Presbyterian on Sept. 24 at 2:00 p.m. In between, there will be a spaghetti feed at noon featuring Virginia's family recipe.