Ralph Hammett Allen

Ralph Hammett Allen, 60, of Maumelle, Arkansas passed away with family surrounding him on June 11, 2016. Ralph died suddenly of cardiac arrest. He was born April 1, 1956 (both an April Fool and Easter Bunny) in Ann Arbor, Michigan to Dorothy and George Allen. His family settled in Rochester, Minn. in 1968. Ralph graduated from Mayo High School in 1974 after having spent his senior year in Australia as a Rotary Exchange student. Ralph graduated from St. Olaf College on May 28, 1978 and married the love of his life the next day at St. John's Lutheran Church in Northfield, Minn. Then, on May 30, he started law school at the University of Iowa. With his law degree and bar exam completed in only two years, he joined the JAG Corp of the United States Army and spent the next three years in Germany. His wife Jan, went with him, and their first son, Alexander, was born in Nuremberg. Ralph left the regular Army in late 1983 and worked for a few years in the County Attorney's office in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He continued in the Army Reserves, retiring in 2010 as a Colonel. In 1988, Ralph moved his family to Little Rock, Ark. where he joined the legal staff of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and became Deputy Counsel. Ralph was an active Boy Scout of Troop 82 at Zumbro Lutheran Church and attained the rank of Eagle. He was an active scouter for the rest of his life. While in Iraq, he helped bring Boy Scouting to Baghdad with troop meetings, pinewood derby races and camping trips in Saddam Hussein's former zoo. Always an Eagle Scout he continued his work with Troop 431 at Amboy Methodist Church in North Little Rock and Cub Scout Pack 10 at Harris Elementary. Ralph is survived by his parents Dorothy and George Allen of Rochester, MN; his wife, Jan (Vevle) of Maumelle; three sons, Alexander (Holly) of Huntsville, Ala., Justin (Michelle) of Little Rock, and Ethan of Maumelle; and one new granddaughter, Hadley Elisse. Also surviving are: sister, Ruth (Jeff) Ehler of Omaha, Neb., brothers, Richard (Brigid) of West Hartford, Conn., Frank (Kim) of Rochester, Minn., and George Leighton Allen Jr. (Esperanza) of Clovis, Calif. A visitation is scheduled for 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 15th at Faith Lutheran Church, 7525 W Markham St, Little Rock. A funeral service is scheduled for 10 a.m., Thursday, June 16th at Faith Lutheran Church. Pastor Joshua Johnson will officiate the service. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Ralph's life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Quapaw Area Council – Boy Scouts of America at 3220 Cantrell Rd., Little Rock, Ark. 72202. Arrangements by Roller-Chenal Funeral Home, 13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, Arkansas 72212, (501) 224-8300. Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.