Dr. R. Lynn Allen

Dr. R. Lynn Allen, age 86 of Maryville, TN passed away Saturday, July 08, 2017. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ada & Pearl Allen; brother, Ed Allen & wife Gloria, and brother-in-law, Bob Hollingshead. He is survived by Jo, his wife of 53 years; his son, Mark; his brother, Don (Sadie); sister, Mary Evelyn Hollingshead; brother-in-law, Bob Bralley (Lib); and several nieces and nephews. He was a member of Maryville First Baptist Church. Over the course of his life, he served as a church Minister of Education, Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, and a Member of the Nominating Committee. He received his Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas and earned his Ed.D in Educational Psychology and Guidance from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. An avid, lifelong Vols fan, he cheered on the orange at football, basketball, and baseball games. He was a professor of Psychology at East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, and Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, and also served UT, Knoxville, as a recruiter of outstanding high school students. He believed that God called him to be a parent, and he cherished every minute he spent being a dad. At every career change, he considered the amount of time he would have with his family, especially as a dad. He greatly admired the late John Wooden, who coached basketball at UCLA; and he shared Wooden’s priorities – God, family, and career in that order. Tender, loving care is eternal. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Maryville First Baptist Church will be appropriate. Family will receive friends from 2:00 until 4:00 PM, Saturday, July 15, 2017 at Smith Trinity Chapel. Celebration of Life will follow at 4:00 PM. Everyone who wishes is invited to wear something orange. Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, 865-983-1000, www.SmithFuneralandCremation.com. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Dr. R. Lynn Allen please visit our Sympathy Store.