John Mock Allen

John Mock Allen, 82, of Cocoa Beach, passed away December 31, 2014. John was born in Cumberland, Maryland, the son of Charles and Lillian Allen. He grew up in Bedford, Pennsylvania and graduated from Bedford High School in 1950. He attended Shadyside Academy for a year and then went on to Penn State. He graduated from Penn State, with a degree in Sanitary Engineering in 1955. He liked to brag that he graduated second in his class, but when further pressed would admit that there were actually only two people in the Sanitary Engineering Department. On June 30, 1956, John married his high school sweetheart, Diane Taylor. The happy couple moved to St. Petersburg, Florida in 1959 and then to Cocoa Beach in 1963. Once there, he opened an engineering firm, Allen Engineering, where he worked six to seven days a week for the next fifty-two years. John and Diane raised three wonderful children and were Pappy and Mimi to seven grandchildren. John was a Professional Engineer and a Registered Land Surveyor and as such was a member of many professional engineering and surveying organizations. A successful businessman and an avid golfer, he spent a large percentage of his profits on golf clubs and new swings. His collection of 52 putters was further proof in his belief it was the golf clubs, not the golfer, that most affected his game. John was quite active in the community. He was president of the Purple Marauder Youth Football League, President of the Cocoa Beach Little League, and coached Bitty Basketball. John was a member of the Brevard County Rec Board, the Cocoa Beach Rec Board, the Chamber of Commerce, the prestigious Cocoa Beach Men's Club, and a trustee of the First United Methodist Church of Cocoa Beach. John enjoyed his red wine, chocolate ice cream, and the skirt steak sandwich and onion board from Bernard's Surf. He was a devoted husband and father, a pillar of the community, and quite often the life of the party--when he hadn't fallen asleep. John is survived by his wife of 58 years, Diane Allen of Cocoa Beach; his son Mark and wife, Deanna, of Phoenix, Arizona; his son Michael and wife, Ginger, of Merritt Island; his daughter Carin Madonna and husband, Mike, of Rockledge; and his grandchildren, Stirling, Hannah, Hailey, Connor, Cade, Cali, and Rylie. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2015, at 1:00pm, at the First United Methodist Church of Cocoa Beach. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Cocoa Beach, Hospice of St. Francis in Titusville or La Casa Assisted Living in Merritt Island. You may sign John's guest book at www.beckman-williamson.com.