Lee K. "Kyle" Allen Jr.

Lee K. “Kyle” Allen, 86, of Havelock, passed away on Monday, October 31, 2022, at Carolina East Medical Center.

His memorial service, with military honors and masonic rites, will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 5, 2022, at First Baptist Church in Havelock, officiated by Dr. Don Hadley and Dr. Matthew Long. The family will receive friends an hour prior to the service. Entombment will follow at Forest Oaks Memorial Gardens.

Lee K., or Kyle as he was known by most, was born on February 29, 1936 (leap year), in Stephenson, West Virginia, to the late Lee Kyle Allen Sr. and Mabel Clair Dean (Blake) Allen. Kyle graduated with the Class of 1954 from Mount Hope High School in Mount Hope, West Virginia. On January 16, 1955, he married the former Norita McGuire who passed away on October 15, 2010. They had 2 children together and 1 grandchild. After Norita’s passing, Kyle was blessed with a second love, Gayle Miller Penney, they wed on January 17, 2011, and his family grew to include 2 additional children, 7 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.

Kyle was a decorated veteran of the United States Navy where he served from May 5, 1954, through October 1, 1983. He transferred to U.S. Navy Fleet Reserves on February 28, 1976, and retired on October 1, 1983, (with constructive time), completing 30 years of service. Retiring as Master Chief Petty Officer (Command), his military service included training at the Hospital Corps School (A School); Operating Room Technician (ORT); Medical Administration Technician (MAT); and Field Medical Service Technician (FMF).

Kyle’s duties included S-3 Chief, Training, Operations, and Plans 2nd Medical Battalion, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Independent Senior Medical Representative, Guided Missile Destroyer (USS William V. Pratt DLG-13) Home-Base Mayport Naval Base, Florida; Administrative Assistant to Naval Medical Research Investigator, Naval Medical Research Unit-2 (NAMRU-2), Danang, Vietnam; Medical Administration Chief, Headquarters Company, 4th Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division, Vietnam; Medical Administration Chief, A Company, 1st Medical Battalion, Vietnam; Command Master Chief, Naval Hospital, Cherry Point, North Carolina, 1971 until transferred to the Fleet Reserves 1976); and was a Credentialed "Physician's Assistant" Certified by the US Navy.

With extensive education obtained in the military, his furthered education included the U. S. Navy Hospital Corps School, Class A at the Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia; Operating Room Technician School at the Naval Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1955-1956); Flight Traffic Specialist School at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma, (1959) where he became a Qualified Flight Traffic Specialist Examiner; Navy Medical Administration School at the Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia (1961-1962); and Field Medical Service School through the Marine Corps Base at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina (1962). Kyle also furthered his education at the Stuart Parks Electrical Code School in New Bern, North Carolina (1976-1977) and in 1979, he graduated, with honors, from the Carteret Community College.

Kyle’s business experience included being a North Carolina Electrical Contractor and was licensed by the State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors in 1977. Owner and sole operator of Lee K. Allen Electric Service from July 1978 until retiring in 1998.

Well known in Craven County for his outstanding dedication to his community. His broad range of public service experience included being a Member of the Havelock Planning Board (1976 -1979); Commissioner of the City of Havelock, NC, (December 5, 1983 - December 4, 1994); Commissioner of Craven County Board of Commissioners, (December 1994 -December 2014); Member of CarolinaEast Health System formerly Craven Regional Hospital) (2012 -2015); Chairman for the Craven County Board of Commissioners 1996 and 2006; Member of the Board of Directors for the Association of North Carolina Boards of Health 1997 -2014. Recognized for his commitment, Kyle was the recipient of the "President's Award" for the Association of North Carolina Boards of Health (1997) where he served as President of the Association of North Carolina Boards of Health Board of Directors, 1999 and 2000. During that time, he also served as a Commissioner Member of the Craven County Health Board (1995 -2014) (Chairman 2002-2004); Commissioner Member of the Craven County Mental Health Board (2005); North Carolina Public Health Association with the Distinguished Service Award for 2006; Recipient of the "Southeast Regional Directors Service Award" National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH) (2001); Southeast Regional Director of the National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH) 2003 and 2004; President of the National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH) 2006; National Association of Counties (NACo) Board of Directors as designated Affiliate Council Member representing the National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH) 2004 - 2009); North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) NACo member 2004 – 2009; National Association of Parliamentarians Member since 2004; Constitutional and Continuing Chairman of the Craven County Health Department Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors, 1996 – 2016; Chairman of the Craven County Community Health Center Board of Directors (2014 - 2017); Member of the Craven/Pamlico Healthy Carolinians Task Force (ENRICH -Eastern Neuse River Initiative for Community Health; Member of North Carolina Governor's Task Force for Healthy Carolinians, 2001 – 2014; Member of "The North Carolina Public Health Task Force 2004 - 2006 - 2008"; Tryon Palace Commission (1996 and 2006); Member, Kellenberger Foundation (1996 and 2006); Chairman of the New Bern Academy Historical Commission (1996); Member, North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Legislative Goals Commission (1997 - 1999 - 2001 - 2003); Board of Directors (member-at-large) North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (1997); Craven County Tourism Development Authority Board of Directors (1995-1997 & 2003);Coastal Community Action, Inc. Board of Directors, Vice-Chairman (1998 - 1999); Board of Directors, Havelock Historical Preservation Society Inc. (Chairman 1999 - 2001); Masonic Theater Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors; Member of the Steering and Parade Committee, PEPSI 100th Anniversary (1998); Member of the Craven County Aging Planning Board (1995- 1998); and Member of the Havelock/Craven County Library Board (1995 - 2005); as well as being a member of "Smart Start" advisory subcommittee (Healthcare) 1998. He was awarded "THE ORDER OF THE LONG LEAF PINE" from Governor James E. Holshouser, Jr. (1976) (Highest award given by the governor for community service).

Always giving of himself, his civic affiliations across the county blessed numerous businesses and organizations. Those included the following: Member of the Cherry Point Masonic Lodge #688 (Master 1978, 1982, 2001) (Chaplain 1983-2000 and 2002-2017), Havelock, North Carolina; Member of the Scottish Rite Bodies 33° (Inspector General Honorary) and Master of the Fourth Degree Team for 42 years; District Deputy Grand Master, 7th North Carolina Masonic District (2008-2011); Certified Lecturer and Past District Deputy Grand Lecturer, 8th Masonic District; Member of the Craven Community Concert Band (Trombone); Member of the New Bern Shrine and Shrine Brass Band (Trombone) (1986-2004); Charter (1986), and continuing member of the Havelock Community Band (Trombone); Volunteer Trainer with the Havelock High School Football Program (1973-2000); Volunteer Electrician with the Crystal Coast Habitat for Humanity where he received the Business Partner of the Year Award (Electrician) 2000 as he wired 10 homes, one being a handicap home; Member and Ordained Deacon of First Baptist Church, Havelock, North Carolina where he served as Chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee (2000-2001), President of the Roy Johnson Sunday School Class and Member of the Church Orchestra (Trombone) and Hand Bell Choir.

Kyle is survived by his wife, Gayle Allen of the home; daughter, Lillian Kelly Gillogly of Beaufort, NC; son, Lee Kyle Allen III and wife Jessica of Havelock, NC; step-daughter, Kristie Wissert and husband Fred of Hamstead, NC; step-son,  Michael Penny and wife Heather of Caldwell, Idaho; sisters, Dixie Barley of Beckley, WV and Elizabeth Appleton of Cana Winchester, OH; brother, Andrew Allen and wife Rickey of Sumter, SC; sister-in-law, Virginia Blake of Murrell Inlet, SC; 7 grandchildren; and 2 great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, Lee was preceded in death by his first wife, Norita Allen; grandson, CJ Orientiale; stepfather, Russell Blake; and stepbrother, Kenneth Blake.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Masonic Home for Children, 600 College St., Oxford, NC 27565, WhiteStone Masonic and Eastern Star Home, 700 S Holden Road, Greensboro, NC 27407, or First Baptist Church, 111 Hollywood Blvd, Havelock, NC 28532.

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home & Cremations in Havelock, NC.