In Loving Memory of Robert E. Allen

October 27, 1947 – August 22, 2025

By a cruel twist of fate, the world has lost one of its finest souls to FTD (frontotemporal degeneration). Robert E. Allen—kind, generous, and deeply beloved—passed away on August 22, 2025. He leaves behind his cherished wife of 43 years, Susie, whose love transformed his life and anchored his heart.

Robert’s journey was anything but ordinary. Before becoming a well-known sculptor, whose work graced homes and landscapes across the country, he lived many lives. He was an applied machinist at John Hopkins, a custom jeweler in his hometown of Carthage, Missouri, and—perhaps most delightfully—an underwater clown named Glurpo at the Aquarena in San Marcos, Texas. Each chapter reflected his boundless creativity and curiosity.

His passion for sculpture led him to Cleveland, where he studied bronze casting at Studio Foundry and sought out artists like Edris Eckhart and John Paul Miller to master other mediums. He never stopped learning, never stopped giving, and never stopped inspiring.

After meeting Susie, his artistic fire only grew brighter. His prolific career brought beauty and meaning to countless communities, and his work will continue to speak for him long after his passing.

Robert was the kind of person who made everyone feel seen, heard, and valued. He gave generously, loved deeply, and lived with a rare grace. To know him was to be changed by him.

He was, simply, one of the best people to walk this earth.

To honor Robert’s generous spirit and lifelong commitment to uplifting others, donations may be made to HandUp Partners ( Handuppartners.org ), an organization dedicated to dignity-based support and the empowerment of homeless neighbors in Lancaster, PA —values Robert lived by every day.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2pm on September 14, 2025, at Pepper Theo Cafe & Events, 555 West James Street - Lancaster, PA. Visit peppertheocafe.com for directions