Arvid Dean Allen

Arvid Dean “Dink” Allen passed away on October 7, 2024. He was 90 years old.

Dink was born in Muleshoe, Texas on January 3, 1934. He attended Dos Palos High School and went to Modesto Junior College and Fresno City College. He also served in the United States Army.

He married Mary Jean Pierini of Dos Palos in 1957 and they made their home in Firebaugh. Dink and Mary raised their four children Lynnette, Kristy, Andrew, and Shauna.

Dink’s life-long occupation was farming in Firebaugh where he grew cotton, wheat, rice, Milo, alfalfa, and many other row crops. Dink and his brother Buzz farmed together for many years as well.

Dink had many hobbies over the years. He was always building or working on a new project. Some of his hobbies included Belgium horses “Butch and Bob” that he used for parades and fun rides. He was also a pilot and had many stories about flying here or there with his family and friends. Dink also loved his time building a new parish hall for St. Joseph’s Church. The community of St. Joseph parish worked together as one and built the hall that is still used today.

Dink is preceded in death by his parents Arvid “Swede” and Beulah “Sal” Allen, his brother Alfred “Buzz” Allen, and his children Lynnette Jean and Arvid Andrew Allen. He is survived by his wife Mary Allen, his daughter Kristy Brinkley and her husband Greg, his daughter Shauna Diaz and her husband Mark, his four grandchildren Jacob Brinkley, Zachary Brinkley and his wife Jenna, Anthony Diaz and his fiance Rory Coulton, Thomas Diaz, and his great granddaughter Willow Jean Brinkley. Dink is also survived by his sisters Gwen Benton of Carmel and Cheryl Swanberg of Sacramento.

The funeral mass will be at St. Joseph Church in Firebaugh, CA on October 22, 2024 at 11:00 am. A reception lunch will follow in the St. Joseph Parish Hall.

In lieu of flowers, please in the memory of Arvid “Dink” Allen to the Marjorie Mason Center 1600 M. St. Fresno, CA 93721or www.mmcenter.org

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