Victoria Allen

Victoria May Hollowell Allen, 101, passed away Wednesday, April 6, 2016, in Thermopolis, Wyo., after a long and full life.

She was born August 26, 1914, in the Panama Canal Zone to Cooper and Ida (Jordan) Hollowell. Both her father and grandfather had gone to Panama during the canal construction and stayed through retirement. Victoria graduated form Cristobal High School where she had been active as a swimmer and bowler.

There was a brief marriage in Auburn, N. Y., to Claud C. Sessions. Afterwards she returned to the Canal Zone working at a military depot in Ft. Davis. There she met and married Sgt. Everett J. Allen and lived the Army life making several moves throughout the country. During WWII they lived in Bluffton, Ind., and in Missoula, Mont., during the Korean War. At those times Victoria had full responsibility in raising the family and always found work as a bookkeeper. Following her husband’s retirement they lived in Salinas, Calif.

In 1976 she moved to Thermopolis to live near her son and grandchildren. She worked at the Big Horn Basin Children’s Center and the Teepee Pool. Memberships included the Does, the DAR of which she was proud of her ancestors’ participation in the Revolutionary War, and an 84-year member of the Eastern Star. She was raised as a Methodist and attended the Community Church.

Supporting the Senior Center she enjoyed Bingo and cards. Until a knee replacement she was an active bowler. She loved baseball, especially the Rockies and San Francisco. Her hobbies included collecting first day issue stamps, genealogy and collecting English Toby mugs. Loving to travel she visited Europe, Asia and Latin America. On her 95th birthday she revisited her home and the canal in Panama. With her zest for life she enjoyed meeting people, especially around a card table. Enjoying Thermopolis and the hot pools, she swam until her 95th birthday.

She is survived by brother, David of Imperial Beach, Calif .; son, Karl (Lynn) of Tucson, Ariz .; granddaughters, Kim Allen of Pecos, N.M., Wendy (Willie) Allen-Mattias of Tucson and Vicky Berndt of Los Angeles, Calif .; grandsons, Bob (Susan) Berndt of Ceres, Calif., and David Berndt of San Jose, Calif .; and great-grandchildren, Jessie and Ryan Berndt and Marcus and Nevaeh Mattias.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband; daughter, Rita Rand; brother, Bill Hollowell; and sister, Hope Hirons.

Cremation has taken place. Memorial services will be held at the Wyoming Pioneer Home, Thursday, April 14 at 11 a.m.

Mortimore Funeral Home is assisting the family. Online remembrances may be expressed at http://www.mortfh.com.