Charles Parker Allen

Longtime Bainbridge Island resident Charles Parker Allen, age 88, died Dec. 8 at Island Health and Rehabilitation.

He was born July 30, 1915 in Seattle, to Roy and Effie Allen.

He graduated from Tacoma High School, and left the University of Washington after two years to attend Art Center School in Los Angeles. This led to his career in advertising art and illustration.

He married a fellow Art Center School student, Willmetta “Willi” Potter in December 1938.

They moved to Philadelphia, Pa., where they both worked for N.W. Ayer Advertising Agency in 1940.

He was drafted in 1942, and spent the next five and half years in the Army Air Corp before returning to Philly to open his own agency where he worked for such clients as United Airlines, Plymouth cars and other national companies.

In 1951, they traveled to Europe for a six-month work hiatus on the ship Ile de France on one of its last voyages.

In 1958, they returned to Washington to establish his ad agency, Charles Allen Associates.

In 1961, he and Willi built a home on Bainbridge Island.

At his family’s request, Chuck became sales manager and later CEO of the family business, Star Iron and Steel in Tacoma.

They built container cranes for moving freight, six of which still grace the Seattle waterfront.

He sold the company in 1970 after guiding it through tremendous growth.

He retired at age 58 and spent time building a motor sailor and playing golf at Wing Point Golf and County Club, where he was a lifetime member.

He was an avid sailor and kept a 36-foot sailboat on the Chesapeake at Annapolis so he could vacation on those waters.

He also crewed on the large boats in races from Miami to Nassau.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Willi, Bainbridge Island; five nephews, Kimball Williams, Kansas City, Mo.; Michael Harris, Phoenix, Ariz.; Randy Harris, Arizona; John Harris, Muskegon, Mich.; Peter Allen, Port Townsend and friends, Myrna and Don Torrie, Seattle.

At his request no services will be held. Memorials in his name may be made to Children’s Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 5371, Seattle, WA 98105.

Arrangements are under the direction of Kass Funeral Home.