John M. Allen

Hampstead: John M. Allen, 87, a longtime resident of Hampstead, died Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at Parkland Medical Center in Derry surrounded by family and loved ones.

Born in Groveland, MA, son of the late Leigh and Jennie (Stewart) Allen, he moved to Merrimac as a child and attended local schools. He later attended college in Boston and served as a technician in the U.S. Army, during W.W.II.

John worked first at the former Western Electric Co. in the Merrimack Valley Works and was transferred to their Ballistic Missile Early Warning System Division working in Greenland and Scarborough, England, where he met his wife, Molly. He worked for Raytheon Company for thirty-five years, first in Andover and Burlington, and also five years in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and two years in Tehran, Iran. He travelled extensively in the Middle East and enjoyed many adventures, once acting as co-driver of a Rolls Royce purchased by a colleague and driven across the Arabian Desert to Beirut, Lebanon.

Upon returning from Iran, he purchased an old restaurant and farm property, known as Green Acres, and spent many years restoring the old farm house and property.

A member of the Island Pond Baptist Church, John enjoyed many hobbies, including woodworking, restoring old clocks, and was an avid reader. He enjoyed travel, especially cruising in the Caribbean and Europe.

He is survived by his loving wife of fifty-four years, Molly (Johnson) Allen, a son Mark Allen of Manchester, NH, a daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and James Vienneau of Lunenburg, MA, and two grandchildren, Kristen Vienneau and Brian Vienneau. Also a beloved and treasured family in England, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Pat and Campbell Davidson of Nottinghamshire, a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Peter and Barbara Johnson of Yorkshire, and several nieces and nephews.

There are no calling hours. Relatives and friends are invited to his funeral service to be held on Saturday, February 28, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. at Island Pond Baptist Church, followed by the rendering of Military Honors by the U.S. Army. A reception will follow in the church. Burial in Lakeview Cemetery will be held in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to The American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association. Arrangements are under the direction of Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main Street, Plaistow, NH. To send a message of condolence to the family please visit www.brooksidechapelfh.com.