Albert Walkins Allen 3rd of Vineyard Haven, known to most as Buddy, died peacefully on Jan. 29 at the Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington with family by his side. He was 73.
He was the son of the late Albert W. Allen Jr. of Vineyard Haven and the late Eileen M. King of Edgartown, and the stepson of the late William King.
Buddy was born in Oak Bluffs on Jan. 13, 1945. He lived in Edgartown and then moved to Vineyard Haven with his family as a teenager. He grew up on Skiff avenue and lived there until his passing. He worked as a fisherman, clamming and scalloping. He also worked in lawn care and masonry throughout the years. He loved growing flowers in his yard, and gardening. He enjoyed playing softball, golf and going to the dog track races with friends in his younger years.
Golfing was one of the things he really exceeded at. He played in many tournaments at Farm Neck and other golf courses. Later he just loved chatting with people and living on the Island.
Buddy was a true Islander and loved it when his grandchildren came to visit. When they were little, he loved taking them to the Flying Horses Carousel, digging for quahaugs, and feeding the ducks at the Lagoon, as he always did with his daughter Kimberly. He would show Martha’s Vineyard to all the visitors who came with his daughter from Vermont, taking them from town to town. He also liked to take trips off-Island. He took care of his mother for many years and would take her to many of her off-Island appointments. He also took other Islanders to medical appointments when they needed transportation.
His favorite trip was visiting his daughter and her family in Vermont. He loved taking his mom on these trips and finding a different route each time, because he loved the scenery. He loved to golf in Vermont and taught his son in law everything he knows. He always had his daughter ride alongside him in the cart.
He started a family tradition when his first granddaughter was born, taking the kids to Santa’s Village in Jefferson, N.H. For 10 years, they made this trip every year in October, because Buddy loved Mount Washington and the fall foliage.
He is survived by his beloved daughter Kimberly Anne (Allen) Goodell and her husband, Brian, of Wallingford, Vt., and his three beautiful granddaughters that he thought the world of, and who loved Papa Allen with all their hearts: Kassidi, Kelsey and Kylee Goodell, all of Wallingford, Vt.. He is also survived by his siblings: sisters Judith Kennan of East Hartford, Conn., Joyce Allen of Vineyard Haven, brother Robert Allen and his wife Maria of Scituate, Mass., and brother in law David Berube of Edgartown.
He was predeceased by his sister Karen Berube of Edgartown and two brothers in law, Robert Kennan of East Hartford, Conn., and David Ritter of Vineyard Haven. He also leaves many nieces and nephews: Robert, Richard, Heidi, David, Carla, Paul, Heidi, Wanda, and Tammy, and was predeceased by nieces and nephews Brenda, Billy, Ronnie, and Eric. All have spouses and children who loved their Uncle Buddy.
Visiting hours will be held on Saturday, Feb. 24 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs.
Everyone is welcome to join the family immediately following for a reception to celebrate his life from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Old Whaling Church in Edgartown.
In lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful for donations made in his memory to The Island Food Pantry P.O. Box 1874, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.
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