Edward Leonard Allsup

Edward Leonard Allsup, Ph.D. SUN CITY WEST - Edward Leonard Allsup, Ph.D., 87, passed away March 26, 2010, in Sun City West. Dr. Allsup was born Oct. 9, 1922, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Howard and Myrtle Allsup. Pastor Kelly Tshibaka, his granddaughter, officiated graveside services held at the family plot on Wednesday, March 31, at 11 a.m. at Olney Cemetery in Pendleton, Ore. Dr. Allsup served as a runner in Europe during WWII in the Army's Trailblazer 70th Infantry Division, unit C/274 earning several medals. During the war, he met Jean Harvey at a USO dance and upon return from Germany, they were married November 3, 1945. He earned BA and Master's degrees in Music Education from The University of Kansas, and a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Southern California. He taught for over 25 years and retired as principal from Newhall Elementary School in 1977. He also taught graduate students at Cal State LA and Pepperdine and was the reading consultant for various southern California school districts. He was active in community service through organizations including the Masons and Kiwanis. In addition to his numerous career accomplishments, Dr. Allsup was an accomplished artist, creating hundreds of oil and acrylic paintings, wood carvings, lapidary and stained glass. He wrote original music scores, played the piano, trumpet, french horn, church organ and sang in the church choir. He loved to learn new things and, in his senior years, taught himself the computer and (at the age of 50) how to downhill ski. During his retirement, Dr. Allsup and his wife enjoyed traveling throughout the 50 US states, Canada and Mexico in their motorhome, exploring Europe together, and taking cruises to the Orient and Panama Canal. They moved to their retirement home in Sun City West in 1989 where he enjoyed playing golf and took great pride in his hole-in-one game. His family remembers him for his playful and loving heart, his creative mind, his integrity, his humor, patriotism, and his honorable service to his country. He was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers, Raymond and Carl. He is survived by his "bride" of 64 years, Jean; brother, Jack Allsup; daughters and sons-in-law, Sharon and Jim Drake, and Michele and Bill Hartline, all of Alaska; granddaughters and husbands, Kelly and Niki Tshibaka, and Lindsay and Joshua Collier; granddaughter, Jenna Drake; grandson, Ron Drake; great-grandchildren, Denali, Josiah and Joseph Tshibaka; and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Disabled American Veteran causes.