Bowling Green – Mr. Buddy Joe Allen, 83, formerly of Muhlenberg County, passed away peacefully in his sleep at Greenview Hospital in Bowling Green. Born September 29, 1938 in Greenville, the son of Miller and Oma Allen, he graduated from Greenville High School in 1956. He married his sweetheart of 64 years, Jimmie Lou Paxton, in December of 1957.
Mr. Allen, a native of Muhlenberg County, began his teaching career in 1960 at Providence High School after graduating with the first bachelor of music education degree ever awarded at Western Kentucky Teachers College that same year. While at Western, he studied the baritone horn. He later taught at Charleston, Mo., and began teaching at Muhlenberg Central, earning a Master of Music Education degree at WKU in 1966. He resigned in 1974 to work in the coal mines.
After an eleven-year hiatus , he rejoined the teaching profession as band director at Lone Oak High School in Paducah, Ky. in 1985. The next year, he returned to Muhlenberg Central and in 1990 was named director of bands at Muhlenberg North High School in Greenville. His bands were consistently high quality performers on the marching field and concert stage at district, region and state music festivals. Additionally, he conducted honors bands in Kentucky and Tennessee, and was in demand as an adjudicator for marching, concert and solo and ensemble festivals throughout the region. Mr. Allen retired in May of 2007.
He served as Kentucky Music Educators Association Third District President, Third District Band Chairman, All-State Band Chairman, and was a charter member of Western Kentucky University’s chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and President of Kentucky Phi Beta Mu. He was named “Band Master of the Year” in 1997 by Phi Beta Mu, and was chosen as the Kentucky Music Educators Association High School Teacher of the Year in 2002. He received the Citation of Excellence from the National Band Association for both marching and concert band. Mr. Allen was inducted into Western Kentucky University’s “Wall of Fame” in 2003 and Phi Beta Mu’s Hall of Fame in February of 2011.
Mr. Allen was a member of the Kentucky Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference, Kentucky Educators Association, Marquis’ Who’s Who, Muhlenberg County Education Association, National Education Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Phi Beta Mu, and the National Band Association. Students taught by Joe Allen held him in the highest regard and attribute much of their success in music and in life to be the lessons learned under his baton.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Jimmy Allen and infant daughter, Elizabeth Jane.
Survivors, in addition to his wife, include daughters Sarah Allen Carroll of Greenville, Cindy (Jerry) McIntosh of Mayfield, Janet Allen of Bowling Green; and son Dr. Joseph (McCall) Allen of Bowling Green; grandchildren, Jacob (Whitney) Carroll, Ben (Heather) Carroll, Nicholas (Rachel) Carroll all of Bowling Green, Leah (Paul) Gilbert of Ball Ground, Ga., and Matthew Carroll of Bowling Green, Katie Beth (Kane) McCord of Mayfield, Ross Allen of Bowling Green, Lucas Allen of Bloomington, Ind., Lou-Evelyn Allen and Smith Allen of Bowling Green; great-grandchildren, River, Ryder and Madilyn Lou Carroll, Micah and Norah Kate Carroll and Penelope Carroll all of Bowling Green; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
A celebration of life for Mr. Allen will be held Sunday, July 10, at 4 p.m., at J.C. Kirby & Son Lovers Lane Chapel, Bowling Green, KY with Bro. Curtis McGehee officiating. Visitation will be Saturday from 12 p.m. until 4 p.m. at J.C. Kirby & Son Lovers Lane Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Joe Allen Scholarship fund. This is awarded by the Third District Band Director’s Association (TDBDA). Please make checks payable to them and mail donations to TDBDA, c/o Joel Watson, 155 N. Main Street, Greenville, KY 42345.
