William Leslie Allen

William Leslie Allen June 20, 1933 - February 16, 2025 Beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather William “Billy” Allen entered Heaven on Sunday, February 16, 2025, at age 91. Born in Paterson on June 20, 1933, to Leslie and Elizabeth Allen, and raised in Singac, Little Falls, and South Paterson, Billy graduated from Central High School and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1952. He served at Naval Station Norfolk/USS Forrestal in Virginia and was honorably discharged in 1956. He married his wife of 65 years, Carol E. Allan, on September 19, 1959, and together they built a life and loving family in South Paterson and later in Brick and Toms River, NJ. They enjoyed all of the wonderful benefits of the Jersey Shore until his passing, vacationing with their daughters Barbara and Sandy, their families, and friends in Wildwood, Seaside, and Cape May; walking every boardwalk; entertaining their grandchildren at the Point Pleasant and Keansburg boardwalks; and enjoying Taylor ham sandwiches, cheesesteaks, and raw clams on the half shell. He was a master at boardwalk games and arcade cranes, and he happily rode all the rides with his girls and grandchildren. Billy was a loyal employee of PSE&G’s Metro Division in Clifton, working as a senior clerk and union shop steward from 1962 until he retired in 1996. He met many lifelong friends there, including Vic Traino, Joyce Young, and Ted Bartel. He went back to college as an adult, graduating from Rutgers University-Newark in 1976 with a B.S. in marketing. The Allen house on Buffalo Avenue in South Paterson was filled with pets, an assortment of dogs and cats that found their way there. The family Buick station wagon was always loaded with kids, as Billy ferried them to Girl Scout meetings, Sandy’s basketball games, school events, skating rinks, and bowling alleys. Billy loved gardening at all his homes and never sat still. Even at 91, he helped produce a plentiful crop of plum tomatoes in his Toms River backyard. He also loved old movies and never missed a broadcast of “Young Frankenstein,” “The Odd Couple,” “The Longest Day,” and “The Christmas Story.” Often, he’d answer a question with a song, with his favorites being show tunes and the music of Neil Diamond and Simon and Garfunkel. He was a whiz at Jeopardy and the New York Times and LA Times crosswords. He enjoyed reading, mostly history books and biographies. Always a loyal Navy “goat” and member of the American Legion, Veterans Administration, and Knights of Columbus, Billy rooted for the U.S. Naval Academy in the annual Army/Navy football game and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. He loved being on the water and enjoyed swimming in the Atlantic Ocean and the Florida Gulf during his time with Carol living as “snow birds” in Englewood, Florida, for 11 years. Billy will be dearly missed by his wife, Carol; daughter Barbara and husband David Iozzia; daughter Sandra and husband Drew Schiavo; his cherished grandchildren Diana Iozzia, Michael Iozzia, Colleen and husband Mike Kerbaugh, Trisha Roughgarden and Ryan Lapadura; and adored great-grandchildren Kason John Lapadura and Jack William Kerbaugh. He also leaves behind his golfing buddy Brother Ed and wife Peggy Allen; sister-in-law Vivian Allen; cousin Regina O’Neill; eight Allen nieces and nephews, their spouses, and their children; and a host of cousins. He was welcomed into Heaven by his parents, Les and Elizabeth, brother Richard Allen, brother- and sister-in-law Joseph and Madeline Allan; parents-in-law Mae and Joseph Allan, nephew Bobby Allen, his partner in crime and cousin Herbie Ohlmeyer, and a large number of beloved relatives and friends. Dad, contrary to what you always sang, we believe that “In Heaven there IS Beer.” So raise a glass and enjoy with those who are with you now! A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered for Billy at St. Luke’s R.C. Church, 1674 Old Freehold Road, Toms River, on Monday, March 10, at 10:30 a.m. If you wish to remember Billy, please consider a donation to the Wounded Warrior Project at https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org