Benjamin Thomas Allen

Ben Allen, 24, of Abilene passed away on Monday, November 10, in Houston. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, November 15, at Southern Hills Church of Christ, with Phil Ware, minister of Southern Hills Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will follow at Elliott Hamil Garden of Memories cemetery, 5701 U.S. Hwy. 277 South, directed by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Visitation will be at 5:00 to7:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Ben, the son of Tom and Judy Allen of Abilene, was in his third year of optometry school at the University of Houston when he died unexpectedly of an aortic aneurysm. Ben is remembered by family and friends for his quiet spirit and strength of character. "He lived a life he loved," said his father. At the time of his death, Ben's Facebook contained a quote from Ed Abbey: "It's a fool's life, a rogue's life and a good life, if you keep laughing all the way to the grave." Ben died having lived that good life. Ben excelled in school and was a Presidential Scholar at Abilene Christian University, graduating in 2006. The word "eclectic" describes Ben in everything from his music to the activities he enjoyed. He was a self-taught guitarist, he loved to snow ski, and he loved the outdoors. He enjoyed fly-fishing and had purchased an ocean kayak with plans to fly-fish across Texas this summer. He loved to travel and was also a prodigious reader, especially enjoying such philosophers at Kurt Vonnegut. People of all ages were attracted to him, said his mother. They loved his patient temperament and his ironic sense of humor, which always kept things interesting. Ben was known as a loyal friend. Ben, Josh Newton and Jay Smith were known as the "Three Amigos." Garrett Turner was Ben's close friend throughout college and was his fellow outdoor adventurer. His long-time friend and youth minister Stephen Corbett described Ben as the kind of guy who was liked and respected by everyone. "He was also the kind of guy who liked and respected everyone," according to Stephen. "He was quiet but always friendly. A leader by example. Authentic. Laughed at other people's jokes. Treated people equally. Demonstrated humility and service. Never, ever complained." Ben loved his family and he loved his Lord. Ben was born January 9, 1984, in Abilene. He attended Lincoln Middle School, where he was in the band, the ALPS program and on the honor roll. He graduated from Abilene High School in 2002, where he lettered in Crash Crew and Academics. He was in the National Honor Society and Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica Spanish honor society. He was in AHS Band Pit and was on the golf team. Ben was active in the Chisholm Trail Council of the Boy Scouts and earned his Eagle Scout designation in 2001. He was in the Junior Scholars Program at ACU between his junior and senior years, and was a member of Pi Kappa at ACU. He was a member of Southern Hills Church of Christ. Ben is survived by his parents, Tom and Judy; a sister, Lori Wallace, and her husband Paul; a brother and sister-in-law, Johnny and Jessica Nguyen; and a brother Cade, all of Abilene. He is also survived by nieces Macy and Zoey Wallace. Other survivors are his grandmother, Billie Allen of Abilene; and extended family members Steve and Carla Allen; Troy and Jordan Allen and son Jackson; Janette Allen; Gary and Laura Allen and children Jace, Cole, Seth and Shawn; Vicki and Tim Deveny; Nicole and Brad Dickey and children Case, Skye and Drew; David and Lauren Deveny and son Nolan; Tony and Elissa Farrah and sons Simon and Samson. Other survivors include William and Jana Sojourner and children Clint, Katy, Amy and Garrett McGinn; Ruth Long; Debra and Bobby Burge; and Donna and Royce Hightower. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Alan Yaw; grandmother, Gloan Yaw; and grandfather, Don Allen. Pallbearers will be Garrett Turner, Josh Newton, Jay Smith, Jeff Smith, Blake Berryhill, Danny Neal, Clint Sojourner, James "Tex" Chambers and Johnny Nguyen. Honorary pallbearers will be members of Pi Kappa. Memorials may be made to Community Foundation of Abilene, 500 Chestnut Street, Abilene, Texas 79602; or Southern Hills Church of Christ, 3364 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene, Texas 79605.