Joseph Lovell Allen slipped peacefully from this life into the next surrounded by his family at the home of his daughter, Juana Badger, in Cedar Hills in the early morning of May 29, 2023. He was 88 years old. Born on March 1, 1935, in Nephi to Joseph Berry and Wanda Hancock Allen, Joseph was the oldest of five children. He mostly grew up in Grover (Wayne County), but also spent time with his grandparents in Salt Lake City. He loved the outdoors, cattle, horses and sports.
When Joe was 14 years old, the family moved to Utah County, where his father worked at Geneva Steel and his mother worked at the State Mental Hospital in Provo. He participated in baseball, basketball, football and track and graduated from Brigham Young High School in 1953.
A life-long member of Tthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Joe served a full-time mission in Argentina from May 1955 to November 1957. After his mission, Joe married Rhoda Gurena Robinson of Escalante on March 19, 1959, in the Manti temple. Joe and Rhoda were married 58 years before her death in 2017. They had 7 children, 27 grandchildren, and 39 great-grandchildren.
Joe received a PhD from Brigham Young University in Ancient and Modern Scripture in 1970. He taught seminary and institute in the Church Education System for 18 years in Idaho, Utah, Texas and Arizona. After retiring from CES, Joe devoted his expertise to researching the history, culture and people of The Book of Mormon. As a scholar, educator and explorer, he authored several articles and books including Exploring the Lands of the Book of Mormon.
Joseph loved his family, serving in the church and talking about the Book of Mormon – to anyone! Like his hero Mormon, Joe could say, “Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (3 Nephi 5:13) He will be greatly missed by his family and many wonderful friends and associates.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Berry Allen and Wanda Hancock Allen; his beloved wife, Rhoda Gurena Robinson; siblings, Stanley Berry Allen, Shirley Rae Allen and Sherwin Carvel Allen; daughter, Traci Allen; and grandson, Christopher Troy Allen.
He is survived by his brother, Richard Lewis Allen; and six children, Blake Joseph (Marion) Allen and Brent Jimmy (Pauline) Allen, all Richfield; Troy Robinson (Rita) Allen, Orem; Todd Berry (Taunya) Allen, Saratoga Springs; Juana Jo (Matt) Badger, Cedar Hills; and Tawni (Taylor) La Salle, San Marcos, California; in addition to 27 grandchildren, and 39 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Friday, June 9, at the Cascade third ward chapel at 1051 East 200 North, in Orem at 11 a.m. A viewing will be held that morning from 9 to 10:30 a.m. An additional viewing will be held on Thursday, June 8, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Olpin Family Mortuary, 494 South 300 East in Pleasant Grove.
A live streaming option will also be available for the funeral on the Olpin website olpinmortuary.com.
Joe loved missionary work and families and he requested that in lieu of flowers to please donate to the LDS Church Missionary Fund or to Primary Children’s Hospital.
