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Thomas (Tom) Ray Allen
Mr. Thomas (Tom) Ray Allen passed away on January 17, 2021. He was born in the Shoals Community near Pinnacle, N.C., in Surry County, on July 17, 1932, to the late William Thomas and Florence Dora Wall Allen. He graduated from Shoals High School, where he was the valedictorian of his class, in 1950. He worked at Western Electric briefly before being drafted and serving in the United States Army for two years in the United States and in Germany. Upon completing military service, he entered Wake Forest College. While there he was a member of the Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity and served as chaplain of the fraternity. He was graduated cum laude with a bachelor of business administration degree in 1959. He received a scholarship from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was graduated there with a master’s in business administration in 1960. Mr. Allen was employed for twenty-eight years at R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. There he continued his professional education by attending seminars and taking courses offered by the American Compensation Association. He was designated as a Certified Compensation Professional in 1982. After two years as a supervisor in the Cigarette Production Division, he was transferred to the Human Resources Department and spent the rest of his career in Compensation, retiring as Manager of Compensation Administration in 1988. Mr. Allen dearly loved his family and church. He was married to Blanche May Shermer on December 18, 1954. The family enjoyed many activities in church and in traveling. An avid sports fan, Mr. Allen enjoyed cheering for both Wake Forest and Carolina, and he and Blanche became members of the Pro Humanitate Society at Wake Forest. The family was shocked by losing daughter Elizabeth Mae to cancer when she was only 19. In later years, Blanche had many illnesses, and Mr. Allen gave her excellent care. Mr. Allen became a Christian in his early adult life. In 1964 he joined First Baptist Church on Fifth, where he served on many committees and in Sunday School leadership roles including seven years as Sunday School Director. After being a deacon for many years, he was elected Deacon for Life in 1997. He served on many committees, and while on the Personnel Committee he was instrumental in initiating an employee appraisal system and making significant revisions in the Personnel Policy Manual. Mr. Allen was preceded in death by his parents and by his wife and daughter. He is survived by one sister, Marie A. Joyce (Ray); by three sons, William T. Allen (Rebecca), R. Dale Allen, and Brian C. Allen (Elizabeth); and by granddaughter Lindsey Murray (Kevin) and grandson Charlie Allen. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. There will be a family graveside service later in the week. Memorial gifts may be made to First Baptist Church, 501 W. Fifth Street, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101.Flowers may also be received through the funeral home. Online condolences may be made on the website of Salem Funeral and Cremation Services. The family gives heartfelt thanks to all who assisted with the funeral. Thanks be to God for the life of Thomas Ray Allen!July 17, 1932 - January 17, 202107/17/193201/17/2021
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Thomas (Tom) Ray Allen
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