Arlyn Allen

She was born in Sidney, Mont., to Arthur I. and Augusta M. (Christensen) Bentson, the second of six children. She lived and went to school in Sidney until the 10th grade, at which time her father’s unit of the National Guard was activated and sent to Fort Lewis, Wash. The family moved to Tacoma, Wash. Arlyn graduated from Clover Park High School in Tacoma, and entered nurses training at Tacoma General Hospital as a cadet nurse. After graduating from training, she took a post-graduate course at Baylor University Hospital in Dallas, Texas, and returned to Tacoma General Hospital to work. In 1949, Arlyn and Bruce Hodgert were married and they had one daughter, Kimberly Joan. Bruce died in 1957. Arlyn left Tacoma with Kim and moved to Phoenix, Ariz., where she lived and worked until 1960, when they moved to Corvallis. Arlyn worked in surgery at Good Samaritan Hospital. In 1963, Arlyn accepted a position as an operating room supervisor in Tacoma, where she worked for 10 years until Kim left for college. She then moved to Portland and worked as an operating room supervisor at Holladay Park Hospital. In 1976, Arlyn and Kim moved to Redondo Beach, Calif., and she continued her operating room career. She married Joe Allen in 1978 and moved to his ranch in Macdoel, Calif. She worked at Merle West Medical Center in Klamath Falls for eight years and the Butte Valley Rural Health Clinic for 21/2 years. She became a certified foot care specialist and did foot care until she retired at age 80. When Joe died in 1999, Arlyn moved to Corvallis to be closer to her sister Joy. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Bruce and Joe, her parents, and sister Joan. Survivors include her daughter, Kimberly Findlay and her husband, Richard, and their two children; step-children Janet Lutz, her husband, Manfred, and their three children; Rodney Allen, his wife, Linda, and their two children; Dorothy Oesterling, her husband, James, and their four children; Joanne Criss, her husband, Charles, and their two children. She also had 15 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters Joy and Augusta, and by brothers Ross and Allan and their families. Arlyn leaves behind many dear friends. She enjoyed traveling, music, reading, friends and family. One of her greatest loves was entertaining her friends and family in her home. She was known for her charm, wit and great sense of humor. She was a member of PEO Chapter in Albany, Newcomers Club of Corvallis, and First Presbyterian Church. The memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov 26, at First Presbyterian Church, Corvallis, Pastor Linda Gebetsberger presiding. The graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28, at Lakeview Cemetery in Macdoel, Calif., Pastor Glen Crook presiding. Memorial donations may be made to First Presbyterian Church or Benton Hospice Service, c/o McHenry Funeral Home.

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Arlyn Allen

February 12, 1925 - November 17, 2007