A kind gracious gentle soul has left us. Fred Huntley Allen, Jr. passed away on Thursday, February 3, 2022. He was born on October 29, 1934 in Wadesboro, NC to the late Fred Huntley Allen and Margaret Hardin Allen.
Fred was a graduate of Davidson College (1955) and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. After internships and residencies at the University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University he graduated from the Neurological Institute of Columbia. While in New York he met Gretchen VanAusdal, his luv. They married in 1964, moving to Charlotte the end of that year to begin his neurology practice.
He served in the United States Army (1968-70) finishing as Chief of Outpatient Neurology at Walter Reed Army Hospital. Upon returning home he founded Carolina Neurological Clinic bringing Army colleagues to Charlotte. Fred was active on the clinical boards of the American Academy of Neurology and was a founding member of the Southern Clinical Neurological Society.
Throughout his practice he had a passion for those with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers. Fred served on the board of the Alzheimer’s Association receiving the Louise Martin award for service. He conducted one of the original drug trials for Aricept and contributed to research at Duke University that identified the APOE gene as a risk for early onset Alzheimer’s.
Fred was a Deacon at Myers Park Baptist Church, served on boards of the Association for the Blind and Shepherd’s Center and worked tirelessly for MedAssist funding in its early days. Supporting his children’s activities was his joy. He was an assistant scoutmaster at Christ Church having been an Eagle Scout himself. Fred never missed his children’s games or performances at Country Day and was a Boosters Club co-chair.
Fred and Gretchen moved to Southminster Retirement Community in 2014 and his positivity was seen by all he met. As dementia took his cognition his granddaughter, Adele became his biggest buddy.
In addition to his wife Fred is survived by his three children, Fred “Hunt” Huntley Allen III and his wife, Emily, William “Will” VanAusdal Allen and his wife, Becky and Margaret “Lucy” Lucille Allen Chapman and her husband, Andrew; grandchildren Cody Elizabeth Allen, Alexandra Grace Allen, Louis Huntley Allen, and Adele Grace Chapman. Also surviving are his sister, Nancy “Missy” Elizabeth Brown and her husband, Henry and numerous very special nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and nephews. Fred was predeceased by his brother, James Hardin Allen and sister-in-law, Ruth Allen.
The family is eternally grateful for the compassionate care of Dr. Charles Edwards and his staff and for all the staff at Southminster.
A memorial service for Fred will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, February 12, 2022 at Myers Park Baptist Church. The family will receive friends following the service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be offered in memory of Fred to Memory and Movement Center Charlotte, 300 Billingsley Road, Ste. 108, Charlotte, NC 28211 or Southminster Community Fund, 8919 Park Road, Charlotte, NC 28210 or a charity of one’s choice.
Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.