Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Diane Lu Allen said goodbye to this world on Thursday Jan. 16, 2025, at 84 years old. Like everything she did, she left the way she wanted to ... on her own terms. She was born on Nov. 28,1940, on a small farm in central Illinois. She is survived by her sister Daryl, Santa Cruz, California, and her brother Dan, Decatur, Illinois. She was predeceased by her brother David of St. Louis, Missouri.
Diane was valedictorian of her high school class and earned three graduate degrees from UCLA, where she studied history, women's studies, and library science. She taught at colleges and universities in California, New Mexico, Oregon and Colorado. She also worked and lived in the Netherlands, Zambia and Tanzania.
She served as president of her chapter of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, on the steering committee for Columbia River Fellowship for Peace, president of the Teachers Union at Columbia Gorge Community College, secretary of the Klickitat Democrats, and treasurer of the Hood River Democrats.
She loved playing piano at Senior Service luncheons in White Salmon, The Dalles, and Hood River, sometimes solo, sometimes with music partner fiddler Donna Reuter. They performed at libraries and churches in Hood River and White Salmon, and at Columbia Arts Center, Chamber Music Fest, retirement centers, and the Veterans Home in The Dalles.
Diane was known to many people in the Gorge. She was an "icon" in White Salmon and was seen daily in the library and all-around town, her statuesque form recognized by everyone. She will be remembered for her mercurial temperament and her sometimes outspoken opinions, which she expressed quite freely! She was a book lover, an avid reader, and always kept a personal diary of her own. She loved poetry, and writing limericks, and she won the 2005 Wordstock Poetry Challenge for her poem "St. Patrick's Day at the Veterans Home." Certainly, she was a very interesting and intelligent friend who loved games, stories, history, and people. She didn't fit a mold; she was unforgettable.
Happy trails, old friend!
Memorials can be made to the White Salmon Senior Center, or End-of-Life Washington.Â
To plant a tree in memory of Diane Allen as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
What a privilege it has been to know such an amazing person like Diane. In all the many interactions I had with her, she never talked about her myriad accomplishments. She lived in the present. What a wonderful role model for us all.
I will miss Diane. We met at a writers group at Bethel Church in White Salmon. The group was called Micah 6, and we shared poetry, essays, reflections, and letters to the editor. I always enjoyed seeing her about town and at gatherings, either with mutual friends or in public spaces. A good person who cared about people and her community.
On this beautiful January day, I found myself full of gratitude for having known Diane for almost 40 years. I learned a lot from her, both ways to be, and ways not to be. These are all beautiful offerings that human beings have the honor to receive and give. I will miss Diane Allen, who taught this way wherever she was and whoever she was with. She was never boring.... Love, Elena
I loved Diane and wish we'd sat down for me to really get to know her. She was one of our most loyal customers at the WildFlower Cafe. One time after we sold the cafe the new owner was badmouthing us audibly on the floor. Diane stood up and told her how much she likes us and that she was never coming back. She never did. Bon Voyage Diane, you left many wonderful treasures on your path through your remarkable life.
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What a privilege it has been to know such an amazing person like Diane. In all the many interactions I had with her, she never talked about her myriad accomplishments. She lived in the present. What a wonderful role model for us all.
I will miss Diane. We met at a writers group at Bethel Church in White Salmon. The group was called Micah 6, and we shared poetry, essays, reflections, and letters to the editor. I always enjoyed seeing her about town and at gatherings, either with mutual friends or in public spaces. A good person who cared about people and her community.
On this beautiful January day, I found myself full of gratitude for having known Diane for almost 40 years. I learned a lot from her, both ways to be, and ways not to be. These are all beautiful offerings that human beings have the honor to receive and give. I will miss Diane Allen, who taught this way wherever she was and whoever she was with. She was never boring.... Love, Elena
I loved Diane and wish we'd sat down for me to really get to know her. She was one of our most loyal customers at the WildFlower Cafe. One time after we sold the cafe the new owner was badmouthing us audibly on the floor. Diane stood up and told her how much she likes us and that she was never coming back. She never did. Bon Voyage Diane, you left many wonderful treasures on your path through your remarkable life.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.