James David Allan, known as Dave or “Popo,” passed away late in the night on August 12th, 2024, at age 80. Dave was born July 16th, 1944, to parents Buddy and Elizabeth Allan and grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is survived by his beloved wife of 43 years, Linda Allan; son James Kenneth Allan of Martinsville, IN; daughter Audra S. Ahne (Rob) of Herrin, IL, grandchildren Rebecca (Kiere) Ferrari-Jefferson, Brandon D. Ferrari; daughter Sara Annie James Allan of St. Louis, MO, grandchildren James Dillan Conner, Kayla Ryan Conner, great-grandchild Sebastian Conner; son David Scott Allan; stepson Brian Bock (Jeanna) of Chapel Hill, NC, grandchild Valerie Bock, great-grandchildren Cooper Hutchens, Davin Scott; stepdaughter Angie Garrett of Oklahoma City, OK, grandchildren Michael Fons, Allie Fons (Lindsey), Marina Hernandez.
Dave was immediately recognizable by his large stature, well-kept beard, and booming voice, and while some may find this intimidating, his family knew him to have a heart of gold. When he wasn’t “studying the back of his eyelids,” he could be found at the shooting range, fishing, going on day trips with his wife, or spending time with his grand “varmints,” whom he often used as an excuse to go to Braum’s for a large chocolate malt (with extra malt!). For most of his life, Dave worked as a mechanical engineer, and even in retirement, he could always be found tinkering with things in an attempt to understand their inner workings. His insatiable curiosity about the world translated into his love of history, books, and obscure facts, all of which made him a formidable crossword puzzle expert.
Dave now joins his departed parents and stepson Otis Franklin Bock Jr. (1964-1994). He will be forever missed. The family will hold a memorial service on August 31, 2024 at 1:00pm at Buchanan Funeral Service in Oklahoma City, OK, and invites anyone to share photos and their favorite stories at michgf89@yahoo.com.
