Obituary for Doris J. Allen (Ester)
Doris J. Allen, 76, died at her home in Union City on Monday, May 1, 2023. She was born in Erie on May 9, 1946, a daughter of the late William and Veronica (Trojanovich) Ester.
Doris graduated from Wattsburg Area High School in 1964. The following year, she married the love of her life, Gilbert E. Allen, at Arbuckle Christian Missionary Alliance Church on October 16, 1965.
She worked briefly at Elgin Electronics before starting her family. As her daughters grew, Doris followed them by working at the Wattsburg Area School District. She started as a teachers’ aid and then transitioned to the cafeteria, where she worked as a cafeteria manager for several years before retiring.
Doris was a member of the Wattsburg United Methodist Church, where she served on the fellowship and mission team committees. She was also very active with the United Methodist Women, where she had most recently served as president. Through the church, Doris was a member of Koinonia of Jamestown (K10) and volunteered on mission trips. She and her husband both shared a special passion for the Won by One to Jamaica mission organization.
Doris was a lifetime member of the Wattsburg Hose Company and was also very active in the Ladies Auxiliary.
In all of her service, Doris was most devoted to the titles of wife, mother, and grandmother - in which she excelled. She was the Girl Scout leader for her daughters’ troops; created floral arrangements for every family wedding; and hosted the best tea parties. She attended every show, concert, game, and performance, and was always a source of encouragement, love, and support.
She was an avid crafter and crocheted many treasured blankets and could always be found lost in the pages of her newest book. Doris will be greatly missed among family, friends, and community members.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Gilbert E. Allen, her great-grandchildren, Celeste and Dexter Stoops; and her brother-in-law, Edward Golden.
She is survived by two daughters, Denise (John Weaver) Rutkowski of North East and Tammy (Dennis) Shreve of Erie; five grandchildren, Sarah (Scott) Stoops of Erie, Megan (Blaine) Ridenour of Asheville, NC, Stosh Rutkowski of Wattsburg, Rachel (Austin) Alloway of Erie, and Emily (James) Rychel of Erie; her great-grandchildren, Christopher, Mason, Aiden, Bowen, and Jackson; her son-in-law, Ted Rutkowski of Wattsburg; her sisters, Margaret (Homer) Lewis, Rita (Lynn) Thompson, and Beverly Golden; her brother, Gerald (JoAnne) Ester; and several other family members that loved her dearly.
Friends may call at the Russell C. Schmidt & Son Funeral Home Inc., 5000 Wattsburg Rd., on Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. and are invited to services at Wattsburg United Methodist Church, 9904 Jamestown Rd., Wattsburg, on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Wattsburg Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to Won by One to Jamaica, 296 Treasure Lake, DuBois, PA 15801, or the Wattsburg Hose Company, 14415 Main St., Wattsburg, PA 16442.
Doris graduated from Wattsburg Area High School in 1964. The following year, she married the love of her life, Gilbert E. Allen, at Arbuckle Christian Missionary Alliance Church on October 16, 1965.
She worked briefly at Elgin Electronics before starting her family. As her daughters grew, Doris followed them by working at the Wattsburg Area School District. She started as a teachers’ aid and then transitioned to the cafeteria, where she worked as a cafeteria manager for several years before retiring.
Doris was a member of the Wattsburg United Methodist Church, where she served on the fellowship and mission team committees. She was also very active with the United Methodist Women, where she had most recently served as president. Through the church, Doris was a member of Koinonia of Jamestown (K10) and volunteered on mission trips. She and her husband both shared a special passion for the Won by One to Jamaica mission organization.
Doris was a lifetime member of the Wattsburg Hose Company and was also very active in the Ladies Auxiliary.
In all of her service, Doris was most devoted to the titles of wife, mother, and grandmother - in which she excelled. She was the Girl Scout leader for her daughters’ troops; created floral arrangements for every family wedding; and hosted the best tea parties. She attended every show, concert, game, and performance, and was always a source of encouragement, love, and support.
She was an avid crafter and crocheted many treasured blankets and could always be found lost in the pages of her newest book. Doris will be greatly missed among family, friends, and community members.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Gilbert E. Allen, her great-grandchildren, Celeste and Dexter Stoops; and her brother-in-law, Edward Golden.
She is survived by two daughters, Denise (John Weaver) Rutkowski of North East and Tammy (Dennis) Shreve of Erie; five grandchildren, Sarah (Scott) Stoops of Erie, Megan (Blaine) Ridenour of Asheville, NC, Stosh Rutkowski of Wattsburg, Rachel (Austin) Alloway of Erie, and Emily (James) Rychel of Erie; her great-grandchildren, Christopher, Mason, Aiden, Bowen, and Jackson; her son-in-law, Ted Rutkowski of Wattsburg; her sisters, Margaret (Homer) Lewis, Rita (Lynn) Thompson, and Beverly Golden; her brother, Gerald (JoAnne) Ester; and several other family members that loved her dearly.
Friends may call at the Russell C. Schmidt & Son Funeral Home Inc., 5000 Wattsburg Rd., on Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. and are invited to services at Wattsburg United Methodist Church, 9904 Jamestown Rd., Wattsburg, on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Wattsburg Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to Won by One to Jamaica, 296 Treasure Lake, DuBois, PA 15801, or the Wattsburg Hose Company, 14415 Main St., Wattsburg, PA 16442.