Roy Tice "Flip" Allen, 88, of Altoona and formerly of Worden, IL and DeKalb, IL died Tuesday, October 22, 2002 at The Clairemont Nursing Home.\r\nRoy was born on May 22, 1914 in Mt. Morris, IL to Jess Quincy and Lelia (Tice) Allen. He graduated from Mt. Morris High School in 1932 and earned a Bachelors Degree from Northern Illinois University in 1939. He served in the 5th Army during World War II and was stationed in Germany following the Armistice.\r\nRoy married Vergene Helen Kirby in DeKalb, IL, on April 12, 1947. After her death in 1956, he married Bly Marion Johnson on December 14, 1957 in DeKalb, IL.\r\nRoy was an outstanding athlete at Northern Illinois University, earning thirteen varsity letters in four years. In 1994 he was inducted into the NIU Sports Hall of Fame. In 2001 he was named to NIU's All Century Basketball Team. His nickname, "Flip" stemmed from his pioneering use of the one-handed jump shot. In his later years he competed in the Senior Olympics in the discus throw, high jump, and broad jump, winning many medals, and placing third in the discus throw in the National Senior Olympics in 1987. He also enjoyed bowling and golf.\r\nRoy was a longtime member of the Kishwaukee Country Club, the Elks and Lions Clubs in DeKalb, IL. He worked as a Physical Education Teacher at the Haish Gym in DeKalb after college. He spent many years working for the U.S. Postal Service in DeKalb and Edwardsville, IL. \r\nRoy is survived by his wife Bly; two children from his first marriage, Michael K. Allen of Eau Claire and Margaret "Peggy" (Steve) Arnold of St. Charles, IL; one daughter from his second marriage, Sarah (Ted) Welter of Minneapolis, MN; three grandchildren, Kate Arnold, and Charles and John Welter; sister, Margaret (Everett) Kested of Mt. Morris, IL; many nieces and nephews.\r\nRoy was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Vergene; brother, Robert; and two sisters, Myrtle Allen and Ethel Yeakel. \r\nA memorial service honoring the life of Roy will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, November 9, 2002 at the Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship with Rev. Virginia Wolf officiating. Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral and Cremation Services is assisting the family.\r\nMemorial gifts may be directed to the Athletic Department, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115.
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