Beloved Family Matriarch

Beryl Saunders Allen, loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, died peacefully at her home in Richland early the morning of September 30, 2014.

Beryl Saunders was born October 31, 1925 in the town of Port Talbot located in South Wales, Great Britain. She grew up with two brothers and three sisters in Port Talbot. In 1945 she met Pfc. Robert D. Allen (Bob) at a town-sponsored dance for American soldiers stationed there. They married on May 21, 1945 in Port Talbot.

In July, Bob returned home after discharge from the U.S. Army and to begin studies at Harvard University. It took several months before the government granted permission for Beryl to join Bob as his wife. She was finally reunited with Bob on December 14, 1945, arriving in New York aboard the Queen Mary ocean liner.

After arriving, Beryl settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as husband, Bob, completed his studies and began work, and their young family began to grow. In 1952 the family moved to Claremont, California as Bob was relocated for a new position. On July 24, 1953 Beryl became a naturalized citizen of the United States. For the next 13 years Beryl moved around Southern California as Bob followed the trail of aerospace contracts. Beryl became active in charity work, raising money for the City of Hope Cancer Center in Duarte, California.

Beryl moved to the Tri-Cities in early 1966, as Bob became part of a team with McDonnell-Douglas to open a new research facility in Richland. That transfer brought Beryl to the place that she would call home for the next 48 years. Beryl was an ardent homemaker who found great pleasure in the raising of her children, followed by grandchildren and then, great-grandchildren. All who loved Beryl have memories of special times sipping tea with her and enjoying her company. She and Bob enjoyed travel together, sometimes work-related. In 1978 work took them to Washington, DC for a year, on assignment with Battelle-Northwest.

In 1985, Beryl traveled to Long Beach, California to participate in the 40th Reunion of World War II War Brides. Over 300 war brides participated in the event, held aboard the Queen Mary, the vessel that brought them to America 40 years earlier.

Beryl was preceded in death by her parents and all of her siblings. Her loving husband of 62 years, Bob, passed away in 2007. She is survived by her six children, and spouses: Thomas Allen, and wife Vicki of Kennewick; Doreen Charette, and husband Bruce, of Mossyrock, WA; Beryl Jean Anderson, and husband Rick, of Spokane, WA; Robert Allen, and wife Donna, of Richland; William Allen, and wife Jan, of Everett, WA; and Rosemary Hamann, and husband Dave, of Pasco; nine grandchildren: Kim Krom of Kennewick; Tracy Lopez of Monroe, WA; Tom Allen, Jr. of Kennewick; Christy Laird of Cheney, WA; Robert Allen, Jr. of Richland; Jennifer Briden of North Bend, WA; Sarah Barba of Auburn, WA; Kristy Cain of Beaverton, OR; and Eric Booth of Pasco; and fourteen great-grandchildren - all residing in the Pacific Northwest. She is also survived by numerous nephews and nieces living throughout the United States and the United Kingdom.

Beryl adopted a very special friend who was a constant companion during her last years – her kitty, Ditto, a 15 pound snowshoe Siamese. They had a very unique bond as Ditto seldom left her lap they were equally as loyal and devoted to each other just as much then as they are today in Heaven. Ditto passed away earlier this year and the urn with his ashes will be laid to rest with Beryl.

Services and visitation will take place at Einan's Sunset Gardens on the Bypass Highway in Richland on Friday and Saturday, October 10 & 11. Holy Rosary will be held at 5:00 PM Friday, followed by viewing from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. A traditional Anglican Burial service, conducted by Rev. Jerry Cimijotti of Spokane, will take place at 1:00 PM on Saturday at the Einan's Chapel, with Holy Communion open to all who wish to receive. The service will be followed by a graveside ceremony and a reception at Einan's Event Center.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are encouraged to two local agencies who have been so helpful with Beryl's final days:

Tri-Cities Chaplaincy
Hospice 
1480 Fowler Street
Richland, WA 99352 

or

Meals on Wheels

Kennewick, WA 99336

500 S. Auburn Street

I am the resurrection and the life.
He who believes in me will live,
even though he dies; and whoever
lives and believes in me will never die.

- John 11:25-26