Darla J Allen

Darla Jean Allen, age 68, of Distant, passed away suddenly at Clarion Hospital on Saturday, July 12, 2025 after a short battle with cancer.

Her kind, adventurous and loving spirit will be missed by her family and friends. She shared abundantly and gave graciously. She could find beauty in everything from the leaf off a fern to the wrinkle of a person's smile.

Darla graduated from Redbank Valley High School in 1974.

She went on to graduate from Albright College in Reading, Anderson School of Theology in Anderson, Ind. and Med Tech School at St. John's Memorial Hospital in Anderson, Ind. She also earned a master's degree in safety science from Indiana University in Indiana.

Her career led to her becoming the hospital lab director in Silver City, New Mexico and later serving as interim lab director at a number of hospitals through the United States.

She loved all dogs, especially her beloved Kritter, Betsey, Johnny, Zoey and Zia. Her love for her pet family was exceeded only by her love for her daughter and son-in-law, sisters and brother-in-law, nieces and nephews and Chosen Brothers, John Stahl and John Wallace.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Pearl (Powell) Allen; and her nephew Calvin Skinner.

Survivors include, her daughter Heather Shanahan (Nate) of Phoenix, Ariz.; sisters, Elsie Skinner and Sherry Bond (Kavin) of Distant; nieces and nephews, Shawna Skinner Meyer (Robert), Jesse Skinner (Amy) and Ryan Bond (Stephanie); great-nieces, Makaya Meyer (Jacob) and son, Arthur, Wesleyann, Kailey, Gabriella, Bella and Diana.

At the family’s request, a private celebration of life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a local food bank or women's shelter.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Rupert Funeral Home and Cremation Service in New Bethlehem.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Darla J Allen, please visit our floral store.