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TACAMO Fallen/Collins Aerospace Industry Partner - Robert Allen
Vern Lochausen shared: It is with sadness that we mark the passing of another TACAMO pioneer. Bobby Allen was a long time TACAMO engineer with Collins Radio, a go to guy with great people and technical skills. He was in some ways the Buff Crowell of Collins, always there to help, always caring about the people, and never shy about expressing himself.
We thank Collins Senior Engineer Terry Leonard for sharing this information. Like many of us now old TACAMO hands, Terry studied under Bobby's instruction.
Robert Hallmark Allen, known to most as Bobby, age 76 passed away July 11, 2024, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.
He was born in Corpus Christi, Texas on July 30, 1947, and married Sandra Wilson in 1970 at a Catholic Church in Corpus.
He had served two tours in Vietnam from 1965-1968. He then served in the US Army Reserve from 1969-1970 and the Texas Army National Guard from 1970-1973, in the 36th division as a paratrooper. He attended the University of Texas after Vietnam and graduated with a B.S. in Engineering. He later did graduate studies at SMU and the University of Texas (Plano).
Bobby joined Rockwell Collins on January 2, 1973, and was in engineering and engineer-related organizations for most of his career until retiring in 2008. He spent most of his career working on US Navy Airborne programs with some variation for US Air Force and commercial contracts.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Peggy; father, Robert; and sister, Nella.
His surviving family includes his wife, Sandra; sons, Robert and Mike; his brother, JW; and three grandchildren, Morgan, Jack and River.
A funeral mass will be held on Friday, July 19, 2024 at 10 AM at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, located at 1201 Alma Dr, Plano, TX 75075. A luncheon reception will be held immediately after mass at the church.
Burial with military honors will ensue at the Cope Cemetery of Johnson County, Texas, 2724 Dave Angel Road Burleson, Texas 76028.
Arrangements under the direction of Ted Dickey Funeral Home.
The TACAMO Community extends its sympathy and prayer for peace to Robert's family and friends during this time of the passing.
I remember working with Bobby when I was Class Desk, and Collins was working on the new modular power amplifier for the E-6B. He was always the level headed one when the discussions got heated among the engineers. His jovial personality always made it easy for me to talk with him about the issues we were having and his depth of knowledge helped me to understand the issues at greater depth than before we talked. I will always remember Bobby during that time. And that brings a smile to my face each time.
I will miss him. When I was a LT I remember him randomly quizing me on Planck's constant or Avagadro's number. What a great personality. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.
And let the perpetual light shine upon them.
May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. VR Frank Volpe