Obituary of Ottie Allen (Mills) Allen

Ottie Faye (Mills) Allen was born on May 23, 1918 in Camden, Arkansas. She was the oldest of three children born to Carl and Lavenia Mills. After high school, Ottie attended Southern University-Baton Rouge, Louisiana graduating in 1943 with a B.S. degree in Home Economics. Ottie met William Howard Allen in 1942 and they married June 24, 1943. Ottie's first job after college was teaching at Coleman College High School in Gibsland, Louisiana. After two years she moved to California to join her parents and brothers while Howard served in the US Army. In 1945, Ottie and Howard relocated to Detroit, Michigan and raised six children: Fritzic (deceased), Shelia, Nathan, Billy (deceased), Brenda and Patricia. In 1963, Ottie and her family moved to Richmond, California where she worked until her retirement in 1983 as Head Teacher in the Richmond Unified School District. Ottie's dream for her children was for them to become self-supportive and independent. Her favorite saying was, "Get a good education; that's something no one can ever take away from you." Ottie believed in education and always had words of wisdom for her children and grandchildren. Her favorite pastimes included playing Scrabble, Pokeno and dominos, watching NBA basketball, and winning games with her family. Ottie also loved to travel, vacationing in Africa, Asia, Mexico, the Caribbean as well as throughout the United States. Ottie and Howard relocated to Sacramento, California in 2000. Ottie led a very active life and maintained memberships in various clubs and organizations including Beta Pi Sigma Sorority. She faithfully attended St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church in El Sobrante while in Richmond and St. Paul's RC Church, Sacramento after arriving in Sacramento. Her husband and two sons (Fritzic and Billy) preceded Ottie in death. She is survived by her four children: Shelia (Sherman) Gibson of Elk Grove, California., Dr. Nathan Allen of Sacramento, California, Brenda Allen of Teaneck, New Jersey, and Patricia Allen-Hunter of Sacramento, California; twelve grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends who loved and will miss her.