Lynn Carlton Hairston Allen

Lynn Carlton Hairston Allen, 83, passed away October 31, 2026.

Visitation will be held Sunday, November 8, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. in the Garden Room at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home. Her funeral service will be held Monday, November 9th, at 10:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Waco, with Dr. Matt Snowden officiating followed by burial in the veteran’s section of Waco Memorial Park.

Lynn was born September 29, 1943, in Florence Alabama to William W. and Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Hairston. She grew up in Florence Alabama and graduated from Coffee High 1959. She graduated from The University of Alabama 1965. She was a Phi Beta Kappa and a Fulbright Scholar. She did post graduate studies in Madrid, Spain, and Mexico City, Mexico. Upon return to the United States, she settled in Washington, D.C. and began working at The Small Business Administration. Soon after, she was interviewed and hired at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). While working at the CIA and through mutual friends she met and married Robert T. Allen, Major, USMC. She moved back to Florence while Robert was deployed in Japan and she gave birth to Robert Blake Allen at Coffee Hospital in Florence. When Robert resigned from the Corps in March 1973 they moved to Arlington, Texas while he attended The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). After his graduation they moved to Austin for graduate school. Their second son, Seth Carlton Allen, was born at Seton Hospital in Austin. They then moved back to Florence where Lynn worked for the Florence School District. She was a member of the Florence Study Club and they were members of the First Baptist Church where she had been a member growing up. They then moved to Waco where she was employed by several banks. She heard that Waco ISD needed Spanish teachers. She took the Texas Teacher Certification Exam and qualified in four areas, Spanish being one of them. She first taught at Carver Academy but was soon moved to Waco High. After a number years there she began teaching at Robinson High School and she retired in 2010.

Throughout her life in Waco she was active in numerous organizations and activities. She was dedicated and consistent in ensuring “the boys” were delivered to their Cub and Boy Scout meetings and activities. Due to her diligence and their hard work they both became Eagle Scouts and members of The Order of The Arrow, accomplishments she was very proud of. She was active in Alpha Delta Kappa (ADK), Waco Symphony Council, Patron of the Waco Symphony, Waco McLennan Retired Teachers Association for which she served as president and several times represented WMRTA in Austin for Teachers Recognition days in the House and Senate. She was member of Phi Mu Fraternity and president of the Central Texas Panhellenic Organization in Waco. She was active with the Brazos Forum, the Henry Downs chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and Blue Star Mothers.

She loved her students. Occasionally, when in the grocery store, shopping, hospital or Doctors Offices she would hear “Miz Allen, Miz Allen! I was a student in your Spanish Class”, and reunions would ensue. She still recognized many of them and was always glad to renew relationships.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brother-in-law Morris Cracraft.

She is survived by her husband, Robert T. Allen, sons Robert Blake Allen, Seth Carlton Allen, her sister Jordan Hairston Cracraft, grandchildren Cicero Allen, Bailey, Charlize, and Tyler Belk, Truett Allen and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

She will be missed.

We invite you to leave a message or memory of Lynn in her “Memorial Guestbook” at www.WHBfamily.com.