Former chairman for Craven County commissioners, Havelock commissioner, passes away
Lee K. “Kyle” Allen, a long-time Craven County and city of Havelock commissioner died at CarolinaEast Medical Center on Monday. Allen was 86 years old.
For more than 19 years, Allen served the county as District 6 Craven County commissioner and spent 11 years as a commissioner in Havelock. He was a Navy corpsman for 22 years active and for eight years in the Navy Fleet Reserves. Since then, he has been a part-time electrician.
In a Facebook post on the county's social media page, Jason Jones, Craven County Board of Commissioners Chairman said, “Commissioner Allen was a champion who always tried to be a good representative of the people of Craven County. He liked to debate issues and I agree with doing that. Through the years, we have had some great debates."
During his time in Havelock, Allen helped create the Havelock campus of Craven Community College, the Havelock Tourist and Event Center and the Havelock-Craven County Public Library. Allen worked for 27 years as a trainer for the Havelock High School football team and was the tournament director for regional and state tournaments for the Little League softball.
His broad range of public service experience included being a member of the Havelock Planning Board 1976 -1979; member of the Board of Directors for the Association of North Carolina Boards of Health 1997 -2014, commissioner member of the Craven County Health Board 1995 -2014 and chairman 2002-2004; commissioner member of the Craven County Mental Health Board 2005, and dozens of other accolades, accomplishments, awards, and recognitions of service not just to Craven County but the state of North Carolina.
"Lee "K" was a great guy and a great commissioner," said Jack Veit III, Craven County Manager. "He had three passion points, one was public health and he was the biggest champion of public health. Being in the Navy, he had a passion for MCAS Cherry Point and protecting the base. He loved Havelock and served as a city commissioner there. But third, he loved Craven County. He enjoyed being a part of it, loved being a commissioner."
Allen was a decorated veteran of the United States Navy where he served from May 5, 1954, through October 1, 1983.
He transferred to the U.S. Navy Fleet Reserves on February 28, 1976, and retired on October 1, 1983, completing 30 years of service. Retiring as Master Chief Petty Officer (Command), his military service included training at the Hospital Corps School (A School); Operating Room Technician (ORT); Medical Administration Technician (MAT); and Field Medical Service Technician (FMF).
Allen is survived by his wife, Gayle Allen of the home; daughter, Lillian Kelly Gillogly of Beaufort; son, Lee Kyle Allen III and wife Jessica of Havelock; step-daughter, Kristie Wissert and husband Fred of Hamstead; step-son, Michael Penny and wife Heather of Caldwell, Idaho; sisters, Dixie Barley of Beckley, WV and Elizabeth Appleton of Cana Winchester, OH; brother, Andrew Allen and wife Rickey of Sumpter, SC; sister-in-law, Virginia Blake of Murrell Inlet, SC; 7 grandchildren; and 2 great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, Lee was preceded in death by his first wife, Norita Allen; grandson, CJ Orientiale; stepfather, Russell Blake; and stepbrother, Kenneth Blake.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Masonic Home for Children, 600 College St., Oxford, NC 27565, WhiteStone Masonic and Eastern Star Home, 700 S Holden Road, Greensboro, NC 27407, or First Baptist Church, 111 Hollywood Blvd, Havelock, NC 28532. Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net
Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home & Cremations in Havelock, NC.
His memorial service, with military honors and masonic rites, will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5, at First Baptist Church in Havelock, officiated by Dr. Don Hadley and Dr. Matthew Long. The family will receive friends an hour prior to the service. Entombment will follow at Forest Oaks Memorial Gardens.
This article originally appeared on Sun Journal: Former Craven County, Havelock commissioner, passes away
