Obituary

WILLIAM J. ALLEN, Retired Inspector, Woburn Police Department, in Port Charlotte, FL, formerly of Woburn, July 9th. Beloved husband of MaryAnn (Peterson) Allen. Devoted father of Keri Winkle and her husband Bryan of Woburn, Colleen Colby and her husband Robert of Colorado Springs, CO, and TSGT William J. and his wife TSGT Sarah Allen, USAF, Spangdahlem, Germany, and stepfather of Kathleen Mims and her husband Loren of Port Charlotte, FL, John Danizio and his wife Denise of Woburn, and Steven Danizio and his wife Melinda of Billerica. Loving grandfather of Sophie Winkle, Emma and Avery Colby, William J. Allen II, Daniel, Victoria, and William Mims, Nicole, Casey, and Ashley Danizio, Tayla and Steven Danizio and Emma Scadding. Loving son of M. Claire Allen of Waltham and the late James Allen. Dear brother of James Allen and his wife Theresa of Billerica and Donna Fanny and her husband Paul of Hooksett, NH. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews. Funeral from the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, Woburn, on Thursday, July 15th at 9:15 a.m. Funeral mass in St. Charles Church, 280 Main Street, Woburn, at 10. Calling hours Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. Interment in Woodbrook Cemetery, Woburn. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to The ALS Association, Florida Chapter, 3242 Parkside Center Circle, Tampa, FL 33619-0907, or to Tidewell Hospice, 1158 Veronica Street, Port Charlotte, FL 33952.

OBITUARY:

William J. "Billy" Allen, a retired Inspector and Arson Investigator with the Woburn Police Department, passed away in Port Charlotte, Florida on Friday, July 9th, following a long illness. The beloved husband of MaryAnn (Peterson) Allen, he was sixty-three years of age.

Born in Cambridge, he was the son of M. Claire (St. Martin) of Waltham and the late James Allen. He graduated from Marist Prep in Bedford with the Class of 1965, and continued his education at the Marist Seminary in Framingham.

Bill was appointed to the Woburn Police Department in 1970, starting as a Patrolman, working nights for seventeen years, and later served as Prosecutor for the City of Woburn. He was the city's first certified arson expert and arson investigator, and in that position successfully helped to solve numerous suspected arson cases. He officially retired as an Inspector with the department in 2002 and had made his home in Port Charlotte in recent years. Bill was a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators and recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association, and also held membership in the Retired Police Officers Association in Florida.

In earlier years he lived in Billerica, where he raised his children and was a member of the Billerica Elks. Summers were often spent with his family at Hampton Beach. He later lived in Woburn with his beloved wife of seventeen years, MaryAnn, before retiring to Florida. An avid Patriots fan, he was a longtime season ticket holder. Whether viewing the game from home or tailgating at Foxboro, a Patriots game was always a major event.

He loved watching the sunset, fishing, and boating in Florida, and enjoyed taking his family out on their pontoon boat. He also enjoyed watching wildlife, both in Florida and, when his children were young, on moose-watching "safaris" in Maine. A few years ago, he and MaryAnn were able to take a memorable cross-country trip where, as a history buff, he visited numerous historic sites and natural landmarks. Most important to him was his family and their well-being, and he delighted in spending time with each of them.

Surviving, along with his wife MaryAnn, are three children: Keri Winkle and her husband Bryan of Woburn, Colleen Colby and her husband Robert of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and TSGT William J. and his wife TSGT Sarah Allen, USAF, of Spangdahlem, Germany, three stepchildren: Kathleen Mims and her husband Loren of Port Charlotte, Florida, John Danizio and his wife Denise of Woburn, and Steven Danizio and his wife Melinda of Billerica; his grandchildren: Sophie Winkle, Emma and Avery Colby, William J. Allen II, Daniel, Victoria, and William Mims, Nicole, Casey, and Ashley Danizio, Tayla and Steven Danizio and Emma Scadding; his mother, M. Claire Allen of Waltham, a brother, James Allen and his wife Theresa of Billerica, and a sister, Donna Fanny and her husband Paul of Hooksett, New Hampshire. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be held from the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, Woburn, on Thursday, July 15th at 9:15 a.m., followed by a funeral mass in St. Charles Church, 280 Main Street, Woburn, at 10. Interment will follow in Woodbrook Cemetery, Woburn.

Calling hours at the funeral home are on Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to The ALS Association, Florida Chapter, 3242 Parkside Center Circle, Tampa, FL 33619-0907, or to Tidewell Hospice, 1158 Veronica Street, Port Charlotte, FL 33952.