Darlene Allenbach
1940-2019
Darlene Iona Cruise was born in September of 1940 in Springfield, Missouri and went to meet her Savior Jan.10th at the age of 78. As a minister’s daughter Darlene spent most of her growing up years in Burlington, Oklahoma, and prior to that in Burden and Garden City, Kansas. Darlene was a generous, compassionate woman, who loved serving the Lord with her whole heart. Her tenacious spirit and hard work ethic earned top grades throughout her academic career as well as numerous awards in chorus and 4-H. When Darlene’s family moved to Burlington she met her future husband and childhood sweetheart, Meredith Allenbach. In 1958 Darlene graduated at the top of her class and attended Oklahoma Christian College where she sang in the Chorale. Darlene and Meredith were married in Stillwater, Oklahoma in 1960. After Meredith earned his MBA, the family moved to the Kansas City, Missouri area. In 1968 the couple moved back to Oklahoma with their two children to join the family farming business.
As a leader in the Burlington community Darlene worked tirelessly to serve others in her church, home extension club, and her business. At the Riverside Church of Christ, Darlene led women’s bible studies and created and orchestrated the puppet ministry, cheerfully training each puppeteer. Another passion was her vision to strengthen the faith of other women as an inspirational speaker. As an dedicated member of the Burlington Home Extension Club, Darlene often shared her homemaking talents and became a yearly judge at the Alfalfa County Fair. With a beautiful soprano, she shared her love of music singing at weddings and funerals and by giving piano lessons. From an early age Darlene possessed an entrepreneurial spirit that propelled business success throughout her lifetime. Being part of the first decade of Arbonne International, Darlene enjoyed traveling with the original founders of the company. With her competitive business finesse, Darlene quickly became a National Vice President earning a Mercedes Benz which she drove until last year. For the last 15 years, Darlene was the owner and director of Club Z Tutoring which competitively served the greater OKC metro area. With her compassion for student learning, she never turned a student away because of lack of means.
Throughout her life God continuously used Darlene’s gifts to guide people to the source of her own joy and strength — Jesus Christ.
Darlene touched the lives of her husband of 58 years, Merideth, children Serena (Brent) Sinclair, Blaine (D’Ann) Allenbach, Eric Allenbach, sisters Dorla (Larrell) Shutt, Debra (Jerry) Painter, grandchildren Summer (Skyler) Thomas, Kara Sinclair, Katie (Cornell) Haley, Lindsay Allenbach, Sarah Allenbach, great grandchildren Lily, Wyatt, and Wade Thomas, Sister-in-law Sonya Pearson and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held 2:00 PM, Tuesday, January 15th at the Edmond Church of Christ, with viewing available before the service. Interment will follow at Gracelawn Cemetery.