BUCKFIELD — Rodney N. Allen, 75, of Buckfield, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Sunday, Nov. 25, after a sudden and unexpected heart attack at his home.

He was born in Hallowell, the son of Rufus and Kerene Allen, Aug. 5, 1937, and was educated in the Norway school system.

Rodney married Alice E. Johnson, Aug. 31, 1959. He worked at B E Cole, A C Lawrence Leather and Tilton’s Market. While working at Tilton’s, he attended Auto Body Repair School in Auburn. Upon graduation, he worked at Giant Advance Auto Sales, then Harold Motors of Oxford, before establishing, owning and operating Allen’s Auto Body in Buckfield in 1966, until his retirement in 1996. He also taught auto body repair at Buckfield High School.

He served eight years in the National Guard and achieved the rank of sergeant.

Rodney was an active member of the Buckfield Fire Department for 20 years and served on the Planning Board, Board of Appeals, Recreation Committee and was a member of the SAD 39 Board of Directors.

He was a founding member of the Streaked Mountaineers Snowmobile Club and owned the first snowmobile in the town of Buckfield which was a 1964 Polaris with a motor in the back.

He was also the treasurer and founding member of the Faith Bible Chapel in East Buckfield. At the time of his death, he was a selectman and tax assessor for the town of Buckfield. The same wisdom and integrity that Rodney exhibited in his everyday life, also served as a valuable asset to our community during his tenure.

His hobbies included playing jokes on his friends and family, playing the dobro and petal steel guitar, four wheeling, camping, snowmobiling, golfing, automobile restoration, cards games, and playing with his “big boy” toys which included his backhoe, bulldozer and tractors.

He was a skilled archer and avid rifle hunter who achieved membership in the Biggest Bucks in Maine Club.

In addition, he also had a lifelong passion for travel. He and the love of his life, Alice, explored all but three of the lower 48 states and spent winters with camping buddies in Florida.

Attending country music shows in Nashville and Branson were regular events. His favorite trip of all was the summer he and Alice took their daughters and their daughter’s families cross-country in a motor home.

But more important than any of these things to him was his family. He was a caring son, loving brother, devoted husband, wise and inspirational father and doting grandfather, who took every opportunity to temper fun with learning.

He is survived by his wife Alice Allen of 53 years; their two daughters, Joan Abrams and her husband, David Abrams and their three children, Kyle McCafferty, Kasey McCafferty and Lindsay Abrams and Julie Allen-Smith and her husband, Randal Smith and their son, Allen Smith; and sister, Rosalie Poland and her husband, Leon Poland.

He was predeceased by a son, Daniel Allen; and sister, Pearl Bowman.

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