HAROLD WILLIAM ALLEN JR

OCT 16, 1965 - NOV 12, 2025

It is with extreme sadness we announce the passing of Harold William Allen, Jr., a devoted husband, father, son, brother, uncle, coach and friend.

Junior was born to Harold William Allen, Sr. (Lilly) and the late Gloria Irene Underwood, who proceeded him in death.

Junior was married to Darlene Lewis Allen, his high school sweetheart of 37 years where he built a life filled with love and family. He was a loving father to his daughters LaKendra Rachelle and LaKeisha Rochelle Allen and a proud grandfather to Elijah William Vega and Chase Kamryn Thomas.

Others who will cherish his memory are brothers Greg Allen (Felicia) and Gerald (Vincent) Allen; sisters Laura Lee Allen Shouse, Sherry Underwood Nelson and Vickey Underwood and a special nephew Dennis Leon Shouse. His mother-in- law Lucy V. Lewis, Aunt Patricia Gilbert, Brother-in law Jasper(Gail) Lewis, Sisters-in-law Patricia Lewis, Joyce (Arlander) Miles, Kimberly (Ledall) Lewis-Woodberry, and Robin(Gene)Williams; and a host of nieces and nephews, family and friends.

Junior was blessed to become part of the Dooley Family. Mark Dooley (Shelly) was his childhood best friend of more than 45 years and his parents, Jerry and Mary (Cookie) Dooley and sister Tammy Dooley Smith were also family.

He was preceded in death by his grandfathers Sterling Underwood and Luther Allen; grandmothers Sadie Underwood and Mildred Allen;  aunt Brenda Allen and uncle Gerald (Bucky) Gilbert.

Junior accepted Christ as his Savior at an early age as a Seventh Day Adventist and later baptized at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, where he was an active member and deacon.

He was a graduate of Terre Haute South High School (Class of 1984) and attended Indiana State University where he was drafted by the Houston Astros.

Junior was currently a mentor and instructor at Story Elementary (AISD) where he loved interacting, teaching and connecting with his students.

From his early days playing Little League to his later days coaching, baseball was always an important part of Junior's life.  Among his many accomplishments was playing in the Indiana High School North/South All Star Game, being a starting pitcher on the 1986 Indiana State Baseball team that went to the College World Series and being drafted in the 5th round (132nd overall) by the Houston Astros in 1987.  Junior spent six years in the Astros organization, advancing to the AAA level and spending two years on the major league 40-man roster.  He was a two-time minor league all-star and a team MVP in 1988 when he had the third lowest earned run average in the entire Astros organization at 2.89. In 1989 he was fifth in the entire Florida State League for the most strikeouts by a pitcher.  After his Astros career ended, Junior founded Rising Stars Baseball Academy in South Texas and later in Dallas area.  Through this academy, two young men were able to secure professional baseball contracts.  Two of his baseball teams at the Rising Stars Academy won state championships and one was a world series runner-up.  During his time leading his Rising Star Academy, he was also an instructor at youth camps in twelve different states and in Mexico.  To say Junior left a lasting legacy in the game of baseball would be an understatement.

Visitation will be held on Monday, November 24, 2025 at DeBaun Springhill Chapel, located at 85 East Springhill Drive from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Service will begin at the funeral home at 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Highland Lawn Cemetery. You may join the live stream link at 1:00 p.m. to view the service. Online condolences may be made to www.debaunfuneralhomes.com.