Isaac Allen

Isaac (Ike) Allen, Jr. graced this world with his presence on October 8, 1935, to Millie Bryant and Isaac Allen, Sr. in Tampa, Fl., later his family moved to New York (Harlem). Ike served in the U.S. Marine Corp. while aboard the USS Bennington CVA 20, in New Port, RI at 60 miles out at sea, the ships boiler exploded. He was “tagged” for dead. A priest was performing the last rites and noticed his heart was beating…God wasn’t finished with him yet!

Ike went to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts where he learned to play the drums. He traveled across the country with Count Basie and several bands. Locally, Ike formed the band, Raw Soul. He definitely stood out with his tall stature  booming “AFRO”. He also was most proud of playing, on occasion, with the Mighty, Mighty O’Jays.

Ike was employed/retired from the US Postal Service. In his senior years, he worked at Canal Park (formerly Akron Aeros) in maintenance and Acme# 1 as a grocery bagger. Ike’s other interests were coaching little league baseball for several years. Bowling was a sport he “really” treasured. He had three or more bowling balls that he would take to the bowling alley to make sure he had what he needed to attempt mastering getting a strike. He last league bowled at Rivera Lanes with his wife, Pat and Marva Broaddus (just like a daughter).

Ike accepted Christ at an early age. He was a past member of Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church for several years, where he played the drums occasionally. Currently, at his passing, he was a member of the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church. Ike was very fond of his pastor and first lady Jeffrey and Angela Dennis. He also had a special fondness for Rev. Jack Streeter.

Ike was preceded in death by parents Millie Bryant and Isaac Allen, Sr., brothers: Nathan, James, Gene, Harold and Billy, sister, Maria, four stepchildren: Wayde, Calvin Sr., Winona (Marie) & Sallie, and daughter in law Paula Jenkins.

He will be sadly missed by his loving wife and caregiver Patricia Allen, stepchildren: Robert Jenkins, Sr., Melanie Allen- Green (Johnnie), Eugene Gillis, Shawn Penn, Samuel Williams (Gloria), daughter in law, Judy Hicks, several grand and great grandchildren, special grandson Jordan Penn, nieces: Carolyn Campbell and Esterline Jones, longtime friends, Lewis Tye (Micey), Eddie Fluellen, Phillip Ingram and a host of other family and friends.