Lona Borders Allen, formerly of 1638 Woodlawn Avenue, Shelby, NC, died on, November 26, 2011 at Hospice Cleveland County. 

Mrs. Allen was born in Cleveland County to the late John Logan Borders and Ethel Blanton Borders.  She was in school at Earl and graduated from No. 3 Township High School.  She was employed at Universal Manufacturing Company in 1955, where she was Plant Manager for thirty-seven years until her retirement.  Her entire family are big golfing fans and her hobbies were golf and playing rook with her friends.

In addition to her parents, her husband, Dan Allen, three brothers, Wilson Borders, John Borders, and Craig Borders, and three sisters, Sue Borders, Grace Wright, and Edna Sparks preceded her in death.

Mrs. Allen is survived by two sons; Randy Allen and wife Frieda Waters Allen of Myrtle Beach, SC, and Danny Allen and wife Patricia Shields Allen of Lugoff, SC; four grandchildren, Lance and Marjorie Allen of Boiling Springs and one great grandchild Peyton Allen of Inman, SC, Zack Allen of Nashville, TN, Nathan and Kelli Allen Sweet of Wake Forest, NC, and Hunter Allen of Lugoff, SC; one sister, Florence Bryant of Charlotte, and special friend, Carlton Beam of Shelby; loving nephews and nieces, Gene Byers of Blacksburg, SC, Gary Borders of Earl, and John Bryant of Charlotte, Marlene Bell of Shelby, Joyce Borders of Taylors, SC, Ann Keller of Gaffney, SC, Judy Raiford, Joan Chapman and Jean Hazelton of Charlotte, and Jane Ashery of Van Wyck.

Mrs. Allen greatly enjoyed her involvement at Elizabeth Baptist Church where she has been a member for more than sixty years.  She had many church friends, taught in the Children’s Third Grade Sunday School Department for more than twenty years, worked in Vacation Bible School, assisted with Bible Drill, was a member of the Keenagers (Senior Adults) where she at one time served as Director.  She was President of the Senior Adult Choir for two years and continued to be a member.  She also was a Sunday School Literature distributor for many years, was a member of the Grace Sunday School Class, where she was Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer.

A celebration of life service will be held at 3:00pm on Sunday November 27, 2011 at Elizabeth Baptist Church.  Dr. Rit Varriale, the Rev. Clinton Padgett, and the Rev. Mike McGee will be officiating.  Burial will follow in the church cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 2:00pm until 3:00 prior to the service at the church. 

Memorials may be given to Elizabeth Baptist Church, 301 North Post Road, Shelby NC 28150 or Hospice Cleveland County, 951 Wendover Heights Drive, Shelby NC 28150.