Charles Bradford Allen

Ret. Army Colonel Charles Bradford Allen, 91, of Columbus, GA died Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at his residence.

A Memorial service will be held 11:00 AM Thursday, August 31, 2023 at Grace Presbyterian Church with Rev. Chuck Hasty officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be held at Ft. Moore Main Post Cemetery with full military honors following the service.

Charles was born January 7, 1932 in Lansing, Michigan to the late Maurice Bartel Allen and Marguerite Stahl Allen. There he attended grade school through high school, graduating in 1949. He spent the next four years at Michigan State University, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and an Army ROTC commission as a Second Lieutenant. While attending college, he met Mitzi and they were married in the Presbyterian Church in Lansingafter her graduation in 1954. During the next thirty years, Chuck served in numerous infantry assignments. He commanded units from platoon through brigade, and served on staffs from battalion to army. He served with the 5th Infantry Division in Germany; 2nd Battle group, First Infantry Division at Ft. Moore, and had two tours in Vietnam. In between, he served as advisor to Haile Selassie’s Airborne Battalion and Bodyguard Division in Ethiopia, Africa. Other assignments included a three-year tour in Alaska (USARAL) with the 172nd Light Infantry Brigade and the USARAL staff, two ROTC assignments and two years with the Directorate of Operations, Continental Army Command (CONARC). He attended the Command and General Staff College, the Army War College, and earned an MBA from Central Michigan University. Following his retirement from the army in 1984, he was employed by Kinnett Dairies, working with the Operations Division until his retirement in 1991. Chuck and Mitzi moved to Spring Harbor in August of 2005 and loved everything about it. He was a member of Grace Presbyterian Church and served as an elder. He was also a Mason for 30+ years. Other than his parents he is preceded in death by his brother, Maurice B. Allen, Jr., sister, Ruby Anne Magee, and grandson Robert Anderson McElmurray IV.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Mitzi Sue Allen of Columbus, GA, daughters, Pamela J. Kelly (Keith) of Newborn, GA, Melissa A. McElmurray of Augusta, GA, Angela S. Kirk (Jeff) of Savannah, GA, Claudia R. Floyd (Greg) of Big Canoe, GA, grandchildren, Amanda Bowen (AJ) of Los Angeles, CA, Laura Rotroff (Richard) of Athens, GA, Rheney McElmurray of Augusta, GA, Brad Kelly (Larkin) of Madison, GA, great grandchildren, Shaylie McElmurray, Darby Bowen, James Rotroff, Martha Kelly, Hadden Skeens, Deary Kelly, Thomas Rotroff, Breelyn Skeens, Wilma Kelly, and sister-in-law Nancy Allen of Minnesota.

Flowers will be accepted by those who wish to send them or a contribution may be made to the Spring Harbor Foundation.