Jane Allen

Marjorie Jane Hammel Henry Allen passed away on November 20, 2011, at Brewster Place in Topeka, Kansas. She was born October 20, 1922, the daughter of Eva Roter Hammel and Dr. Seth A. Hammel in Topeka, Kansas. Jane attended Topeka High School and Washburn University where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. She majored in English with a "lifelong" teaching certificate. She married Lyndus A. Henry in August 1945 and moved to Overland Park, Kansas. After they divorced, she married Renee V. Allen; he died in 1977. She earned her Masters in Special Education from KU at age 50. She taught for twenty three years in the Shawnee Mission School District, first in the Teenage Mothers' Program and then in the Homebound Special Services. As an active member of the Overland Park Presbyterian Church for over sixty years, she served as a deacon, was part of the Sewing Circle, and made chocolate chip cookies for every event. In 1995, she invited the elderly singles to dinner and suggested a monthly dinner. The LEOs (Let's Eat Out) has met monthly since. Jane was active in Delta Kappa Gamma International; PEO; Stephens' Ministry, and Theta Alumnae. She volunteered over 2000 hours for Shawnee Mission Hospital and the Christmas Bureau. Jane's love of reading, literature and history was infectious. She loved to travel with family and close friends. She is survived by her four daughters, Linda (Cricket) Elrod of Topeka, Kansas; Betsy Pringle of Kirkland, Washington; Kim Van Laeys (Joe) of Sharon Springs, Kansas, and Eva Peters of Longmont, Colorado; and eight grandchildren - Carson Elrod, Bree Elrod Novak, Molly Pringle, Jessica Van Laeys, Danielle Evans, Kelley Van Laeys, Amanda Peters and Natalie Peters. Services will be 1:00 Wednesday, November 23, 2011, at Overland Park Presbyterian Church, 8029 Overland Park Drive. Memorial donations can be made to the Jane Hammel Henry Allen WWA Scholarship in Education c/o Washburn Foundation, 1700 College, Topeka, Kansas, 66621, or the Overland Park Presbyterian Church.

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