About Jack's Life

 
   
John B. Allison, Jr. (Jack)
November 26, 2006 Obituary

      John "Jack" B. Allison, Jr. 77, Columbus, formerly of Indianapolis, died Nov. 17, 2006, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was born in Beaver Falls, PA., July 26, 1929, and grew up in Guinea, VA. Mr. Allison earned a B.S. in civil engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute, where he was a member of the class of 1950, and served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force from 1952-1954.

       He was a founding partner of the civil engineering firm Reid, Quebe, Allison & Wilcox (RQAW) in Indianapolis, where he worked until his retirement in 1991. He lived in Indianapolis from 1957 to 1991, where he was a member of the Indianapolis Rotary Club, the Indianapolis Sailing Club, Toastmasters, and volunteered as a big brother through Big Brothers of Greater Indianapolis. Mr. Allison also served as a deacon of First-Meridian Heights Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis and of First Presbyterian Church in Columbus.

      He was a member of the Lake Monroe Sailing Club, Columbus Senior Center and the Columbus Art Guild. Mr. Allison enjoyed painting for more than 40 years, working primarily with watercolor. An avid sailor, he enjoyed racing his Thistle at Geist Reservoir as well as sailing at Lake Michigan, Lake Monroe, the Chesapeake Bay, the Eastern Shore and, the Caribbean. He was a licensed pilot.

      Quick-witted and always optimistic despite his declining health in recent years, he continued to pursue his love of travel. At the time of his death, Mr. Allison was on a cruise with his wife and his sister and brother-in-law. He is survived by his wife of 16 years, Jeanne K. Carteaux of Columbus, IN; his friend and first wife, Christine Conlin of Indianapolis, IN; two children, John B. Allison III of San Jose, CA, and Amy L. Allison of Indianapolis, IN; his sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Charles Collins of Ruther Glen, VA.; four stepchildren, Jan Carteaux of Scottsdale, AZ; Todd Carteaux of Avilla, IN; Jill Hoffelder of Kendallville, IN; and Julie Carteaux Monroe, of Columbus, IN; and 10 grandchildren. A memorial service to celebrate Mr. Allison's life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at First Presbyterian Church, 512 Seventh St., Columbus. Family and friends will gather for a reception in the Laws Room at the church immediately following the service. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church Steeple Fund; WFIU/IU Foundation, 1229 E. Seventh St., Bloomington, IN. 47405; or to the Macular Degeneration Foundation, Box 531313, Henderson, Nevada 89053.

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