Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Mr. Benjamin Franklin “Ben” Allen, age 92, a resident of Terra Ceia Community, Pantego, died Tuesday, January 31, 2023, at his home.

Funeral services were held 2:00 PM Friday, February 3, 2023, from the Chapel of Paul Funeral Home & Crematory in Washington, conducted by William Ray Askew and Jeff Brunson. Burial followed in Pamlico Memorial Gardens in Washington.

The following served as pallbearers:  Gary Respess, Boyd Respess, Fred Tetterton, Derick Tetterton, Carl Van Staalduinen and Mark Van Staalduinen.   Honorary pallbearers were Fred Howell, Greyson Tetterton, Jeffery Stotesberry, Charles Rose and Casey Van Staalduinen.

Mr. Allen was born in Edgecombe County on September 7, 1930.  He was the son on the late James Franklin Allen and Ludie Smith Allen.  Mr. Allen served in the U.S. Navy.  He was a retired parts salesman for Motor Parts for over 28 years.  Mr. Allen was a past member of Old Ford Church of Christ and Elizabeth Chapel Church of Christ.  He was a current member of Terra Ceia Church of Christ.

On May 21, 1977, he married the former Joe Ann Brinn Sawyer, who survives.

Surviving with his wife are his son, James Franklin “Jimmy” Allen of the home; two step sons, Jerry Sawyer and wife, Sally of Terra Ceia, Ricky Sawyer of Terra Ceia; step daughter, Theda Sawyer of Chapel Hill; two grandsons, Justin Benjamin Allen of Chocowinity, Nicholas Andrew Allen of Washington; one great grandchild, Kaleigh Arianna Allen of Tennessee; five step grandchildren, Kim Sawyer and husband, Robbie Harris of Belhaven, Robin Cooper and wife, Karen Cooper of Angier, NC, Anita Muehlbach and husband, Jake of Siler City; Amber Sawyer of Terra Ceia; Rick Sawyer and wife Kristen Sawyer of Washington; and nine step great grandchildren, Alyssa and Ashleigh Woodward of Belhaven, Hanna and Taylor Muehlbach of Siler City, Breanna and Bailee Sawyer of Washington, Aneiva and Amberlynn Sawyer of Pinetown and Olivia Wood of Angier.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Allen was preceded in death by two brothers, Waymouth and James Allen and two sisters, Myrtle Rascoe and Mary Allen Parker.

The family received friends from 5:30 PM until 7:30 PM Thursday, February 2, 2023, at Paul Funeral Home & Crematory. The family will receive friends at other times at the home, 3842 Terra Ceia Road, Pantego.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Terra Ceia Christian School, 4428 Christian School Road, Pantego, N.C.  27860 or Terra Ceia Church of Christ, 4509 Christian School Road, Pantego, N.C.  27860.

Online condolences may be offered to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

Paul Funeral Home & Crematory in Washington is honored to serve the Allen family.