Clair LaVar Allen

Clair LaVar Allen departed this earthly life on March 6, 2024 at the age of 86 after a hard-fought battle with cancer. Clair was born on April 9, 1937 in Logan, Utah, and was the son of Merrill Clair Allen and Frances Marjorie Allen. He was sealed for time and all eternity on June 12, 1965 to Margaret McDonald in the Oakland, California Temple. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Margaret, and his children: David (Jessica) Allen, Elizabeth Hughes (Preston) Klimper, Rachael Porter, Kathryn Allen; son-in-law James (Karlene) Sloan; and 9 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings, Robert (Pat) Allen, Margene Yeaton, and Charlene (Raymond) Watts in addition to many nieces and nephews. He is reunited in death with his daughter Sabrina Christine (James) Sloan and son-in-law Timothy (Elizabeth) Hughes. Clair served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the West Germany Mission from 1957-1960. After successfully completing his mission, Clair returned to West Germany while serving in the U.S. Army from 1960-1963. Clair liked to tell his family that he “peeled potatoes” while in the U.S. Army, although in reality he served in military intelligence. It is through his years of service in Germany that his love for the German language and the German people led him to pursue his education in German literature and history. Clair attended Brigham Young University and Harvard University, receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. With his fluency in German, the U.S. Government recruited him for a career in intelligence. Clair’s work with the U.S. Government took him and his family to countries all over the world, including England, Austria, Germany, Paraguay, Thailand, South Korea, and Israel. Clair and Margaret settled in Vienna, Virginia, where they lived upon returning from his international assignments. Clair had many hobbies including amateur radio, an interest that started in his teenage years. He communicated with ham radio operators from all over the world. Clair used this knowledge to participate in emergency preparedness communications for the community and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His children fondly remember several of his call signs including N4JOD and AA4KD. Additionally, Clair had a deep and abiding love of genealogy and family history. This led him to become involved in many genealogical societies, and he worked tirelessly to research and discover numerous family ancestors. This commitment resulted in countless trips to the temple and hours spent recording family information on many genealogical databases. Children and grandchildren alike lovingly remember his perpetual eagerness to share the latest family story he had discovered or the newest family record he had procured and catalogued. Clair had a strong love of the Lord and the Gospel. He served faithfully in many church callings, including in the Washington, D.C. temple. He had immeasurable love and devotion for his wife and family, including his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren – a legacy of which he was immensely proud. The family wishes to extend a heartfelt thank you to the nurses and doctors of the INOVA Fairfax Hospital Oncology Unit and the George Washington University Hospital Oncology team for their great kindness and loving care. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 am on Friday, March 15, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 1325 Scotts Run Road, McLean VA, with a visitation held beforehand at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers and in keeping with Clair’s love of service, consider donating to the Humanitarian Services Fund at https://philanthropies.churchofjesuschrist.org/humanitarian-services.

Clair LaVar Allen

April 9, 1937 - March 6, 2024