Gene Allen

Gene Allen was born March 27, 1928, in Mount Vernon, Mo., to Bessie Marie Allen. He died Dec. 9, 2025, in Oklahoma City after a brief illness.

Gene was adopted and raised by his maternal grandparents, Walter and Della Allen, who, "Near the end of their lives, gave me mine," he wrote in his 2023 memoir, "The Boy with Four Eyes."

Gene's career in broadcasting began at radio stations in Altus, Miami and Stillwater, OK. After graduating from Oklahoma State University, he joined WKY-TV while its studios were located in the Little Theater in downtown Oklahoma City.

He worked as a copywriter, then moved to news cameraman and later to writer-producer in WKY-TV's award-winning documentary team specializing in Oklahoma history. Among his awards were three Western Heritage documentaries, one of which was nominated for an Emmy, and "The Freedom Riders," named best documentary of 1961 by Sigma Delta Chi (Society of Journalists).

After retirement, he also published, "Voices on the Wind," a history of early Oklahoma radio, and "A Quaker Sergeant's War," the diary of a Civil War Quaker soldier.

Gene served in the U.S. Army and Oklahoma Air National Guard, where he retired with the rank Lieutenant Colonel.

He leaves behind wife Cheryl Strickland Allen; daughters Nancy Shively, Sally Allen and Jenny Frank; 10 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and many extended family and friends, who will miss him dearly. He was predeceased by first wife Virginia Ruth Easley Allen.

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