GREENWOOD
John Allen England passed away peacefully at his home on July 24, 2022, with his wife, Marian, at his side. Allen, as he preferred to be called, was born March 2, 1953, in Memphis, Tennessee to Mary P. and Kenneth P. England. Early in life, Allen’s family moved to Portage, Indiana.
Allen was an avid sports fan, from Little League on up to being a gifted athlete and three sport Letterman at Portage High School in football, basketball, and baseball. He also enjoyed college sports, especially the IU Hoosiers and Oregon State Beavers, more than professional leagues except for his beloved Chicago White Sox.
Allen not only excelled in sports in high school, but also participated in leadership roles such as Student Council, Class President, and Mayor of Portage for a day. Allen graduated from high school in 1971.
Upon graduation from high school, Allen enrolled at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, and completed his bachelor’s degree in history. While at DePauw, Allen also served as President of his fraternity, again drawing on his leadership skills. Allen graduated from DePauw in 1975 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. While in the Marine Corps, Allen met and married Marian (née Meyer), the love of his life. They enjoyed military assignments in Okinawa, Japan; Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; and MCAS El Toro, California. Upon discharge as a Captain, Allen enrolled at Indiana University Bloomington School of Law and completed his Juris Doctor degree with honors. Allen accepted a position with the office of the Indiana State Public Defender where he served for many years fighting for the principle that our system of justice should apply to all. Even after officially retiring in 2015, Allen continued to serve clients pro bono and assisted in obtaining relief for a person who was wrongly convicted of a crime he did not commit. Allen fought for the “little guy” and the underdog.
Allen was a prolific reader on a variety of subjects and loved to discuss both historical and current events. He had a quick wit, a keen sense of humor, and an infectious laugh. He was kind, empathetic, and easy to know. With Marian, he had a deep love of animals and rescued numerous pets over the years. He believed that every creature was a miracle of life and deserved respect. His enormous love of life will be greatly missed.
Allen lived a life of service helping others, animals and people alike. Allen believed that one should “stay on the straight and narrow and lead a purposeful life”. He was a true friend and a genuine ‘good guy’.
Allen is survived by his wife, Marian, and brothers, Kenneth (Judy) of Albany, Oregon; and James of Brandon, Mississippi. He also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews. At Allen’s request, there will be no services. The family requests that any donations in Allen’s memory be made to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation (www.toysfortots.org) or the Interchurch Food Pantry of Johnson County Indiana (by check to: P.O. Box 147, Whiteland, IN 46184 or online through PayPal or Givelify).
Arrangements have been entrusted to G.H. Herrmann Funeral Home, 1605 S. State Road 135, Greenwood, IN.
