Obituary of Ralph Allen

Ralph Merle Allen 76, South Bar It is with deep sadness and broken hearts, that we the family, announce the peaceful passing of Ralph Allen which occurred on December 31, 2022 while being embraced in the arms of his loving wife and surrounded by family. Born on March 24, 1946, he was the son of the late Ralph Ernest Allen and Christine (Fraser) Allen, and after being widowed married Bill Drover who helped raise Ralph. He grew up in South Bar and as a young man went to Ontario returning to South Bar to build his home and start a family. Ralph truly loved South Bar and his home on Allen’s Lane which was his “Happy Place”. Spending time with family and friends, hanging out in his garage having cocktails, and swimming at the South Bar Wharf all Summer was when Dad was the happiest. If you needed to find him, he usually wasn’t very far from there. Allen’s Lane will never be the same without Dad. Ralph was a true gentleman in every sense of the word. He was a kind, gentle, and a very hard-working man who loved his family deeply. Ralph always had an infectious smile that would light up a room and make anyone feel welcome. He had a wonderful sense of humour and a very caring nature. His love for his family, music, swimming at the wharf (in his pool as he called it) and living in the greatest place on earth, South Bar, was well known by all that love him. He made a living for his family as a lobster fisherman in South Bar in his younger days later becoming an Electrician/Pipe Fitter working at the Sydney Steel Corp for many years until his early retirement due to a back injury. An injury he refused to keep him down and has always remained active by walking 4 miles per day, swimming in the ocean from June-September up to 3-4 times a day, cutting wood, keeping the lawn pristine and fixing/repairing anything that needed to be done. He was a professional musician for most of his adult life, having his own band known as “Country Business” for 25 years playing dances all over Cape Breton, to playing kitchen parties with friends and relatives. Family was the most important to Ralph and he would do anything for his children and grandchildren. Ralph was always ready to help anyone in need without hesitation He is survived by the love of his life of 55 years, Doris (Sampson) Allen. They were the true example of true love and shared a love that will go down in history. He is also survived by his three children Troy (Jan), Michelle (Darcy) Rideout, Trevor (April). His grandchildren, his pride and joy, Reese Allen, Jacob and Grayson Rideout, his sister Laura Drover and his brother Blaine Drover. Ralph is also survived by 2 aunts Jessie MacDonald, South Bar and Katherine Clements, New Brunswick and his uncle Willie Fraser South Bar. Many nieces and nephews, brothers and sisters-in-law all of who he loved very much. Besides his parents, Ralph was predeceased by many aunts and uncles and most recently his Aunt Rita Drover and Uncle Francis Fraser. Visitation for the late Ralph Allen will take place Wednesday January 4, 2023 from 7-9p.m. at the T.J Tracey Funeral Home, 6 Churchill Drive, Sydney. Funeral Mass will take place at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, January 5, 2023 at Holy Redeemer Church, Whitney Pier with Fr. Paul Murphy officiating. Cremation to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Darcy Rideout in conjunction with T.J. Tracey Funeral Home.