January 11th, 1937 - October 17, 2021
To many from the dorm he was ‘Pops’, to even more, he was ‘Coach’ – along with all the regular male titles - but to his family he was ‘Superman’.
It has been said that he richly touched many lives, but he would say that many lives richly touched his own. Earl Wayne Allen came into this world January 11th, 1937 to William “Earl” and Laura (Babcock) Allen and left us unexpectedly October 17, 2021. A celebration of his life will be at 11 am, Saturday, October 30th, 2021 at Oakwood Christian Church in Enid, Oklahoma, under the direction of Wilson Funeral Home of Pond Creek.
Deer Creek, Oklahoma was his hometown where his love of sports was born. He endured all his schoolwork years as a Deer Creek Red Devil just to play sports. Lamont beauty, Roberta Robison captured this rival football player’s heart in marriage in 1955, but his love for football couldn’t be squelched. A full-ride OSU (then Oklahoma A&M) football scholarship began his college career as starting end and was very soon to be crushed when his collarbone was shattered ending his playing possibilities at OSU. Devastated, he just couldn’t be settled to finish his scholarship out as an injured player on the OSU sidelines. So, after a brief escape to Chicago, he returned, found a doctor to clear him and played fullback for NOC and then went on to finish playing for Panhandle A&M showered with too many awards to mention. He was offered to go Pro, however the love of his life couldn’t bear the rough road of injuries nor his absence from the family’s life – now with a son and a daughter.
He flipped over to the other side of football and cherished a career coaching all sports at Marshall (1961-65), Medford (1965-72), Jones (1972-75), and Waller Junior High in Enid (1975-89). A trail of State championships, trophies and awards followed his belief that fundamentals win the game. His love for, along with a life devoted to youth took him back to NOC in Tonkawa to be ‘Pops’ to hundreds at Boehme Dorm until 1996. For a close friend, he came out of coaching retirement to help start the OBA football program. He went on to coach many little leagues in his hometown area to championships with his theory of hard work, fundamentals and every detail counts.
This football player and his queen traveled for years until her death in 2016. A beautiful California woman, Linda Pankratz, became his bride in the fourth quarter of his life in 2019. Their life was packed full of love, fun, and adventures. He gained a surviving stepdaughter, Lori and husband Jim Balch of Stockton, California; six step-grandchildren: Matthew, Danielle, Miranda, Jenna, Jacob & Ciera, and Charles and five great-grandchildren: Rayne, Jackson, Lincoln, Molly, & Makenna. However, in their short fairy tale together, he was devastated to lose two stepsons, Brad and Barry Pankratz. His legacy also leaves his wife, Linda of the home; a son, Dirk and wife Ann of Enid; his daughter, Sherri and husband Ross Whitehead of Lamont;
Seven Grandchildren: Jake & Melissa Allen, Desireé & Justin Morrison, Deidra & Curtis Johnson; Alisha Davis, Codi & Brandon Walker, Hunter & Regan Whitehead, & Jace Whitehead & fiancé, Desiree.
Fifteen Great-grandchildren: Jade, Bodhi, Dawson, Briggs, Carmen, J.W., Brooklyn, Hadlee, Courtney , Brace, Cole, Bearett, Maci, Draxston, & Milo.
He was preceded in death by his parents, ‘Earl’ & Laura Allen and predeceased spouse, Roberta Allen.
In lieu of flowers, you may honor Earl with a donation to the Allen Memorial Scholarship for the many lives that he touched.
Obituaries are posted, in part, due to the generosity of The Commons.
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