Sam Allen

Sam Allen, born Roy Samuel Allen on June 7, 1945, in Chicago, Illinois, to Samuel and Ella Allen, passed peacefully on October 23, 2024. Growing up in Tyner, Indiana playing basketball, Sam dreamed big, even earning acceptance to Notre Dame. But when college costs proved too steep, he pivoted to the Air Force, where his real adventures began.

While stationed in Colorado, Sam met Kathy on a blind date, and the two quickly became inseparable. Sam, ever resourceful, proposed to Kathy using money he won in a card game, and the couple embarked on a 54-year love story that saw them through thick and thin. They were married on December 30, 1969.

Sam and Kathy settled in Maryland where Sam worked for the federal government. He later tried his hand at car sales, home sales, and more, before earning a psychology degree from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. He built a long, fulfilling career with the State of Maryland.

Together, Sam and Kathy raised three children—Christopher, Matthew, and Paige—and Sam always made it a point to tell his children, “I love you.” These simple but sincere words were a testament to his deep love for his family. Though his journey was full of love and joy, it was also marked by tragedy. In 2008, Sam lost his oldest son, Christopher, to suicide.

As dementia settled in during his later years, Sam’s memories sometimes faded, but his love for the outdoors remained strong. He was often found picking flowers and gathering leaves to bring to Kathy or anyone else who would appreciate his finds. Even when life challenged him, his connection to nature, animals, and the simpler joys of life remained intact.

A devoted Redskins fan (back when they were the Redskins), Sam never missed a game and brought the same passion to cheering for his team as he did to fishing and enjoying the great outdoors. His love of nature and his connection to animals were constants throughout his life, even when his memories started to fade. 

Sam is survived by his son Matthew Allen, his daughter Paige Gilmore and her husband Jay Gilmore, his daughter-in-law Cheryl Allen, and his seven grandchildren, Noah Allen, Avery Medlar, Sage Allen, Logan Gilmore, Jack Gilmore, Christopher Gilmore, and Eden Allen. His beloved Kathy, his partner through it all, passed away in January 2022 after 54 years of love, laughter, and shared adventures.

In Sam’s memory, take a moment to tell someone you love them, watch your favorite team, or pick a wildflower to remind yourself of the beauty Sam always saw in the world.

Family and friends may gather at Ambrose Funeral Home, 1328 Sulphur Spring Rd., Halethorpe, MD 21227 for a public visitation on Thursday, October 24 from 6:00-8:00pm and on Friday, October 25 from 10:00-11:00am. A Funeral Service will begin at 11:00am. A Luncheon will be held at Olive Grove, 705 N. Hammonds Ferry Rd., Linthicum, MD 21090 following the service.