Robert Elsworth Allen of St. James, MO, passed away at the Phelps County Regional Medical Center in Rolla, Mo. Thursday, on June 21, 2012. Robert Allen was 83 years, 10 months and 26 days of age.

Robert Allen was born on July 26, 1928 in Hartford, Connecticut to his parents: James Ellsworth and Florence (Dupuis) Allen. Robert was united in marriage to Jo Ellen Schweiss on August 3, 1974 in Alpine, California.

Robert Allen is survived by his wife of the home: Jo Ellen (Schweiss) Allen of St. James.; five daughters: Mary Ann Allen of St. James; Barbara Jean Wallace and husband Douglas of Rolla; Barbara Joe Hepburn and husband Rod of Romona, California; Elsa Gay Svensson and husband Ron Gleason of Salt Lake, Utah and Marta Jean Svensson of Ronona, California, and son: Eric Alan Svensson and wife, Sharon of Alpine, California., along with 7 grandchildren.

Robert Allen is preceded in death by his parents, one brother, James Allen, who was killed on a naval ship in WWII, and two sisters: Dorothy Schaeper and Doris Allen.

Robert Allen known by his family and friends as Bob Allen or Colonel Bob having attended auctioneer school in Kansas City, and auctioned for many years. Bob was born in Connecticut and traveled from Connecticut to California, his family had homes in both states.. He attended Hillyer College in Harford, Connecticut where he graduated, in Architectural Drafting and Design. Bob's father started and operated Mayflower Moving and Storage Company, so traveling was nothing new to the family. The family owned and operated the Mayflower Company until a devastating fire consumed the warehouse in California. When Bob was young he joined the Navy along with his brother; and served in the U.S. Navy and completed Gunnery school, as a gunner on the SS Selma after his discharge from the Navy, he moved to California and met and married Jo Ellen. He worked at Sverdrup and Parcel as an architectural draftsman and specification writer and while employed at Sverdrup and Parcel he worked on the construction of the St. Louis Arch.

In 1977, the family moved to St. James where they operated the Show-Me Antiques and Furniture Refinishing. Bob and JoEllen kept very busy with family, operating the antique store and the Allen Auction Service. Later in life Bob was a Supervisor at the Shelter Workshop in Rolla. Bob had many hobbies. He collected antique jars. He had a tremendous cook book collection and published a book Collectors Guide to Collecting Cook Books. He collected vintage papers and enjoyed studying about Jello-Jellentian and Baking Powders and items of time past. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in St. James along with having been a past president and past Distinguished President of the St. James Kiwanis Club.

Services
A Memorial Service for Robert Elsworth Allen will be conducted July 1, 2012 at 2:00 pm at the First Baptist Church in St. James with Jerry Bauman officiating. Hymns "Amazing Grace", "We Will Gather at the River" and "I'll Fly Away" will be sang by Stephen Brubaker with Janet Ashley at the organ.

On-line condolences may be entered on the funeral home website www.jonesfunerals.com

All arrangements are under the direction of the Jones Funeral Home in St. James.