Lawrence Michael “Larry” Allen, age 57 years, of Bridgewater Township, NJ, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, March 21, 2020 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital-Somerset, Somerville, NJ.
Born on November 8, 1962 in East Orange, NJ, son of the late Donald Reagan and Doris Anna Chew Allen, Larry was raised in the Berkeley Heights/New Providence, NJ area and had also resided in West Caldwell, Madison, and North Plainfield before finding his “little place of tranquility” in Bridgewater, NJ in 1998.
A 1980 graduate of New Providence High School, Larry was currently the Director of Professional Services for PKA Tech IT Solutions, Suffern, NY where he was well regarded by his colleagues and peers as a man of honesty, integrity, and knowledge. He was also working as a Tasting Room Associate for Unionville Vineyards, Ringoes, NJ, and was beloved by many visitors as he made their experiences at the winery truly memorable.
Larry’s life surely can not be summated in several paragraphs, but to honor Larry via words is to first and foremost praise the good and loving God of us all for Larry’s life. Larry’s passion and love for God and his faith was the foundation for all that he did in life, and that radiated out in his multitude of good words and works.
His personal reflection statement surely was put into action by him daily. “Let me trust in my ability to do what God has given me, and care for what has been entrusted to me” were not just words he recited daily, but words he put into practice.
Following faith, family is right on the top of the list when speaking of Larry’s life and legacy. The story begins first of course with a loving set of parents and siblings who place God at the heart of all their actions. The story takes a twist though when at a college career group happened to have a bowling night in Red Bank, NJ.
It was there that Larry would meet a young Ms. Nancy Lynn Beatty. She was a newly found Christian and searching for knowledge. Larry was the one her friends warned her about jokingly. That night though, they both felt a divine intervention and after a few letters being exchanged, they both knew that their future was together. Married for thirty-four years, the vows they exchanged at Valley Bible Chapel in Washington Township, Bergen County, NJ on April 5, 1986 still hold true today. The verse they adopted to guide their life was from Psalm 34:3, “Oh magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.”
With Nancy by his side and God providing strength and inspiration, the couple set out to help make the world a better place, in God’s image. The couple would raise four boys, and all recall their father as being a true role-model for each of them. He was there with a helping hand and a listening ear at all times. His words of encouragement allowed them to become men in their own right, and to always remember that God’s love was aiding them as they traveled life’s path. One of the greatest joys the boy’s brought Larry and Nancy, was the addition of the couple’s four “daughters”, as he was so happy they each found their life partner as he had found Nancy that faithful night at the bowling alley.
Larry stayed very involved in the churches wherever he lived, and most recently served as Elder of Calvary Bible Church in North Branch, NJ where his smiling face welcomed many people each Sunday as well as at many church events. He was the man you could count on for anything, and the Church was a place where he found a second family.
Having many hobbies, Larry enjoyed skiing, woodworking, golfing, wine tasting and development, sitting on the beach with family and friends, sailing, hiking, and of course, spending time ensuring that he and Nancy’s home was a sanctuary for everyone. He found much comfort in Matthew 18, creating “A Quiet Place” where anyone could walk paths and find a respite with God. The Allen homestead was, and will remain a place of hope and comfort for anyone who is in need.
Larry had personal goals for living his life based upon 1 Timothy 4:11-16: “These things command and teach. Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this your will save both yourself and those who hear you.” May all those reading this not take sadness in Larry’s death, but rather let these words and Larry’s spirit and God’s love strengthen and allow you to help keep him very much alive in your good actions and deeds.
In addition to his cherished parents, Larry was preceded in death by two brothers-in-law, Walter Off and Gregory Renaud; a niece, Amy Off; a nephew, Bradley Allen; and his best friend and cousin, Wesley Uhler.
Surviving are his loving and devoted wife, Nancy; his sons and “daughters”, T.J. & Cherie՛ Allen, Stephen Allen & Katie Ellis, Caleb Allen & Sage Castle, and Jason & Danielle Allen; his siblings, Don & Ann Allen, Deborah Off, Lee & Karen Allen, Kathy Renaud, Jay & Karen Allen, Scott & Deb Allen, Randy & Christine Allen, Jill & Paul Huber, Tom & Meredith Beatty, Ed & Gina Beatty, and Linda Beatty; several nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family; and many dear friends made around the world.
A service of thanksgiving for Larry’s life will take place at noon on Saturday, August 1, 2020 at Calvary Bible Church, 144 Readington Road, Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889 under the care and direction of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ 08822.
The family will receive friends at the church on Saturday from 9-11:30 a.m. Wright & Ford Care Team Family Ambassadors will guide you upon arrival at the church.
The life celebration service at noon will be live-streamed and can be accessed by clicking HERE (note, the feed will begin at 11:45 a.m.)
Knowing how vital the love of family, friends, and the community is when someone passes, everyone reading this is encouraged to leave a detailed note on this page—perhaps a favorite story, or maybe the way Larry touched your heart—something to help inspire a measure of comfort and hope to all who read the comments.
A private immediate family visitation and committal prayer, followed by cremation at Somerset Hills Memorial Park Crematory, Bernards Township, NJ, took place at the time of Larry’s death under the direct supervision of the Wright & Ford Licensed Care Team Family.
Please visit Larry’s permanent memorial site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a memorial candle, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of his life.
For those who wish to honor Larry, contributions in his name may be made to Calvary Bible Church, 144 Readington Road, Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889. Kindly note “Larry Allen Memorial” in the memo section. Any and all contributions are greatly appreciated by the family.
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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”