Covenant News

Memorial Service Held for Donald L. Allis

FULLERTON, CA (July 3, 2002) - Covenant News Service has learned that retired ordained Covenant Pastor Donald L. Allis died June 15 at Gordon Lane Convalescent Hospital in Fullerton.

The 79-year-old Allis served in ministry from 1953 until 1996. He began as an Evangelical Free Church pastor before serving at Neighborhood Covenant Church in Rosemead, California, from 1974 until 1982. He was a chaplain at San Bernadino County jail for 14 years before his retirement. He received the Points of Light Award in 1991 from President George Bush.

"He loved evangelism, he loved the people that he served and many people from different churches came to his memorial (service)," his wife, Marilyn, said. "He was a real servant of the Lord."

Born December 5, 1922 in Omaha, Nebraska, Allis enjoyed music as a child and his singing became part of his longtime ministry. He enlisted in the United States Navy December 8, 1941, a day after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. He served in the Navy for six years and then earned his undergraduate degree from LaVerne College in southern California. From there, Allis earned a Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky.

While Allis was in the Navy, he met Marilyn Greenwald, who was studying organ with a cousin of Allis. They married August 22, 1946, in Santa Ana, California. "Her cousin had married my cousin," said Marilyn as she recalled how she met her husband. The couple raised four children: Susan, Linda, Nancy and Todd.

Allis is survived by his wife, four children and two grandchildren. A memorial service was held at Brea Congregational Church in Brea on June 22 - Marilyn served as organist at the church for many years. Allis had suffered from Alzheimer's disease during the past six years, she said.

Memorial gifts may be marked to the memory of Donald L. Allis and directed to Prison Fellowship Ministries, P.O. Box 1550, Merrisfield, Virginia, 22116.

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