LEO WALTER PAUL ALLEN

Leo Walter, the sixth boy, and eleventh child of Laura Baumgarder and Cornelius Allen was the first of the Allen family to be born in DuBois, Pa. He nearly was born in the Clearfield County jail, like his brother Bus, but his father's term as sheriff had ended December 1909 in Clearfield. Leo was born January 18, 1910 in the rental house on Main Street and then moved later that year to the newly built Georgian three-storied house at 415 Weber Avenue, DuBois. He, of course, was a member of the famous DuBois Holy Name Band that marched in President Wilson's second inaugural parade and part of the younger Allens that participated in the family minstrels and programs.

Leo attended St. Catherine's school where he excelled in all athletics and played both winter and summer seasons.. An April 4,1927 DuBois Courier news article describes him as the high scorer for the Saints final basketball game, "... and in addition played an excellent all around floor game." Leo graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1927 and wanted to explore the medical profession and train for a doctor of medicine. He started out at St. Bonaventure University, Olean, NY and transferred the second year to St. Louis U., St. Louis, MO. Leo's oldest brother encouraged him to make the move as Tom and family were living in St. Louis and would be able to help him finance his education and also St. Louis had an excellent medical program. Daughter Judy remembers the skeleton he kept on the third floor and the medical books full of fascinating pictures that still reside on her shelves. Unfortunately, after two college years, Leo returned to DuBois because the Depression was causing havoc with everyone's finances.

Leo returned to DuBois to work and also to resume a relationship with a lovely DuBois girl. Leo's best friend and basketball teammate was Daniel Earl Terry who had introduced Leo to Virginia Copenhaver who was the younger sister of his girlfriend Vesta. Both girls were inseparable while attending DuBois High school and the boys did quite of bit of double dating. Virginia was the "best dressed" girl in DuBois according to dress shop owner Jane Leonardson. Virginia was not only attractive and active in school clubs but smart and was the high school bookkeeper, a job that she kept until she graduated in 1929. Leo and Virginia both took French and Virginia's diary is sprinkled with poems to Leo and French phrases. Daughter Judy still has one of Leo's name cards from her mother's scrap book with a hand written note, "La Votre Toujours." Leo and Virginia "went out" for many years and enjoyed each other over family dinners. Leo especially liked dining at the home of Ervin and Cecilia Geist Copenhaver on E. Long Ave. since the family was small (just Vesta and little sister Edith) and he had a better chance of getting a big meal and not competing with all his siblings at home. One of Leo and Virginia's favorite activities was to get up early and be at the golf course by 6 a.m. to get in a round of golf before work.

Leo worked at Brockway Glass Company and was the company salesman for the western division which required a bit of traveling. Virginia was employed as a bookkeeper for Vasbinders' Jewelry and later for Shivelys' Jewelry Store. Some years later Ed Allen asked her to work for him replacing his sister Ida who was on leave because of surgery. Virginia worked for the Con Allen Shoe Store until she was married. At last, the depression times were improving, Leo proposed to Virginia and they eloped to Buffalo, New York where married sister Vesta lived. Since Virginia was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Leo made arrangements to be married in the Office of the Chancellor, Diocese of Buffalo September 23, 1935 by the Rev. Raymond Curtin. Virginia's sister Vesta and her husband Herman Kirker traveled with the newlyweds on their honeymoon to Crystal Beach, Canada.

Leo joined the Army National Guard and told some of his best stories about his Cavalry days where he was declared an elite equestrian. The Pennsylvania Guard was directed by the Army National Guard Bureau. The members of the Guard enlist voluntarily and are formed into distinctive units. Leo was a Sergeant in the mess and especially enjoyed the equestrian unit and served during peace time in the 1930's at Indian Town Gap near Harrisburg, PA. During peace time members are paid for the time spent training. Typically National Guard members attend 48 weekly drill and training periods a year plus two weeks of field training. The Guard is called to duty by the President during any national emergency. Also the governor of the state could call the Guard to active duty to help with a strike, riot or natural disaster. When the National Guard retired the horses Leo lost interest and asked for a discharge. At the advent of WWII Leo tried to enlist in the Army but was deferred because he had too many dependents.

In 1936 Leo left his traveling sales days and worked for the Con Allen Shoe Store. He and his young family lived around the corner from the Allens on State Street in a house that had a wood burning stove in the living room. One early morning, Leo stoked the fire and went off to work, but luckily he had forgotten his dress shoes for the military ball that needed polishing and returned for pick-up only to find the house ablaze! While battling the flames Leo called to Virginia sleeping upstairs and she wrapped baby Bobby in a big blanket and started running down the curving stair case. She fell over the hem of her bulky bathrobe and singed her forehead on the base board and also lost her slippers. Leo lifted the blanket to see if Bobby was OK, since he was so quiet, and saw the two wide eyes looking at him while a lick of flame singed Bobby's hair on his forehead. Both Leo and Virginia suffered injuries that required convalescent time. Virginia and Bobby went to her parents while she was on crutches to recover from the painful cinder abrasions to her feet. At the Con Allen house, Leo slept in a sitting position facing the back of a straight chair while he recuperated for several month from a singed back. They felt blessed to be alive! Virgina related that Leonardson's Dress Store had loaned her a full length black Hudson seal fur to wear to the Ball and it was hanging in the closet which was in the direct area of the fire and was destroyed. Leo and Virginia eventually moved to Park Avenue in the Spring of 1937.

In November 1941 Leo joined the US Postal Service and worked at the DuBois Office for 31 years until June 30, 1973. Shortly after he started working for the post office the agency divided major cities into numbered postal zones in 1943. (eg.. Pittsburgh 4, Penn.) He was witness to the increase of mail sent by air and in 1953 the Post Office began to fly first-class mail between cities. In the 1960's the post office used high speed equipment to perform many of the hand office chores. In 1963, Zip codes were started. In 1971 overnight delivery of first-class mail between major cities began. A few years before Leo retired Congress replaced the Post Office Department with the United States Postal Service, which was an independent agency in the executive branch of the government. Leo observed from his retirement that the new Service did not see a profit and become self-supporting until 1983!

In the late 1930's and early 40's Leo and Virginia had three children - Bob, Art, and Judy - and their lives were centered around family activities. Leo coached basketball at St. Catherine's. He bowled regularly, loved sports and enjoyed a strong fellowship with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pirates. His lifelong goal was to enjoy golf every moment that he could. He did not play tournaments but participated simply for the love of the game. Leo was also active in the Knights of Columbus, community events and sang in the St. Catherine's choir. Virginia was an active member of the DuBois Chapter of the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) and the DuBois Maple Avenue Hospital Auxiliary. She enjoyed her service in the St. Catherine's PTA and the children school projects.

Leo passed away in June of 1984 and Virginia in August 1987. Family friend Sr. Clare Marie wrote when Virginia died, " Your parents were such Christians - so open, hospitable, sharing their excitement for life. I respected them a great deal."