Obituary of Delbert "Tad" Allen

On Wednesday, March 8, 2023, Delbert Eugene “Tad” Allen, age 96, passed away peacefully at his home after a brief illness. Tad was a loving husband of 31 years to his Wife Judy. He is survived by Judy and also a large blended family of children including Audree Allen Horton, Laurie Allen, Jonathan Allen (Teri), Robbie Allen, Amy Allen Mercado (Juan), Jason Allen (Crystal), Tracy Anagnostis (Joe) and Kelly Faircloth (Harlan). He is also survived by 15 Grandchildren, 10 Great Grandchildren and 2 Great Great Grandchildren.

After raising his children and a lengthy tenure, Tad retired from Brevard Community College, Cocoa Campus, where he was one of the original Educators in the Vocational/Industrial Arts Division where he taught masonry and building trades. He also instructed the State General Contractors License Preparation Course where he met his wife Judy.  He was loved by both students and coworkers alike.

Tad was a WW2 Veteran as a member of the Army Air Corps and was extremely proud of his service. He participated in the Honor Flight in 2015 which was a thrill for him!  He was an avid wood worker and created beautiful furniture and wood crafts for his family, friends and beloved annual Family Reunion raffle. He and his wife, Judy founded the Allen/Salisbury/Sherrill Family Reunion in Tennessee which is 34 years strong this summer. He loved spending that time every year with his extended family and friends on the mountain.

He was an avid reader, loved fishing, camping and traveling with his wife Judy. For 40 years he took pride in his Abraham Lincoln presentation. He performed scores of times for local schools and civic organizations as well as annual Presidents Day parades both in and out of the state, including impersonating Abe Lincoln at the The Olustee Battle Festival in Lake City every February for over 30 years. In later years, Tad got his wife Judy to portray Mary Todd Lincoln beside him. They had a lot of fun and enjoyed doing that together. He was recognized everywhere he went by young and old. He was a real local celebrity. Over the years he had compiled over 800 publications of Lincoln related books, literature and memorabilia of which he was very proud.

He was an active member of the Rockledge-Viera Kiwanis Club until his death. Up until his illness, he and his wife Judy enjoyed the camaraderie of their weekly Wednesday Night Dinner Club. He and Judy were two peas in a pod and were inseparable. They were always on the go and very active in the lives of their extended families. Tad will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.

Funeral Services will be held at East Coast Christian Center, 680 N. Courtenay Parkway, Merritt Island, Florida 32953, on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at 1:00 pm. with a luncheon following in the Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to a charity dear to his heart,  Families for HoPE, 1219 N. Whittfield Street, Indianapolis, IN  46229

https://familiesforhope.org