Allen Harris Forbes II

After a life well-lived, Allen Harris Forbes II died January 24, 2026, at the age of 93, in Lancaster PA. Allen was born October 20, 1932, and grew up in State College, PA. His parents, Allen H. Forbes and Frances Ford Forbes, instilled in him a love of the outdoors, music, and family. He graduated from high school in State College, and he received his engineering degree from Pennsylvania State University in 1954.

Allen met his beloved wife, Jane Pauline Barkley, when they were sophomores at Penn State. They married June 12, 1954, four days after they graduated and they celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary in June 2025. Theirs is a great love story, even though their second date involved going over a waterfall in a canoe. They remained “head over heels” for the entirety of their days together. In addition to his wife Jane, Allen is survived by their five children: Marilyn Forbes Phillips (Tim), Carolyn Jane Vavreck, Allen Harris Forbes III (Kirsten), Robert Barkley Forbes (Kristin), and David Scott Forbes (Deanna). Additionally, he is survived by his seven grandchildren: Megan Christine Forbes Sparks, Elijah Barkley Forbes, Samuel Hansmann Forbes, Carly Elizabeth Forbes, Michael Allen Vavreck, Sarah Jane Vavredge, and Benjamin Forbes Vavreck; six great-grandchildren: Lily Jane, Bentley Franklin, Kallie Rose, Haley Jane, Troy Jameson, and Elisabeth Barkley, as well as an adored circle of extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his two sisters, Margaret (Marnie) Forbes Hoy and Helen (Minki) Forbes Bischoff, and his grandson, Harris Wayne Forbes.

Allen’s childhood in State College was idyllic. Beginning at age three, he went to Penn State football games with his parents and sat in the faculty section. When he was a bit older, Allen and friends would wait for the Nittany Lions to enter the field on game days. He loved getting scooped up by a player and being carried on to the field for the start of the game. As a boy, he frequently rode his bike to campus to watch the iconic Nittany Lion limestone statue being carved. His spirit of adventure led him to go spelunking in local caves and camping with his Boy Scout troop.

His strong work ethic began with his first job, a paper route, delivering the Centre Daily Times from his bicycle. More than 70 years later, he could recite his route, his families, and whether they paid their newspaper bills on time. He instilled in his children the importance of being honest with all people and in all of one’s dealings.

Despite his gentle soul, Allen was a fierce competitor in sports, whether watching or playing. In high school, he played center for both the football and basketball teams. His sports tenacity (also known as stubbornness) made the local paper when he managed to foul out with three minutes left in the first quarter of a high school basketball game. Allen disagreed with how the referee was calling the foul, so he kept it up to “prove the point” that he was “just guarding my guy.” His children still affectionately refer to him as the “King of the Backyard Sports,” as he was always ready for games of tetherball, four square, volleyball, and badminton. He spent many happy evenings on the East Petersburg Elementary School sports fields next to Larch Avenue, acting as the official pitcher for neighborhood games of kickball, “SPUD,” and wiffle ball. Summers were spent at countless Lancaster County swim meets, cheering on his five children. That dedication to family then extended to his grandchildren’s sporting events and activities, after his children were grown. He kept his Penn State football season tickets for decades and spent hours watching Penn State sports on TV, especially wrestling and volleyball. His passion for competition continued well into his 80s, when he successfully competed in both the Pennsylvania and National Senior Games, and “three-peated” as the Pennsylvania state champion in badminton at the age of 84.

After college graduation, Allen served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany, from 1955-1957. Jane joined him overseas and they had wonderful adventures as a young couple exploring Italy, France, and Germany.

Allen followed in his father’s footsteps to pursue a career in engineering, working both as a civil and industrial engineer. His work took him and his family to Ohio, Arkansas, and Pennsylvania. He proudly secured his Professional Engineer certification, and he especially enjoyed the time he spent working in the field with the builders and tradesmen responsible for the hands-on aspects of building projects.

Allen’s Christian faith was central to his life, and he paired that faith with works of service. Helping others was a key theme of his entire life. His beautiful woodworking and precise construction skills helped rebuild homes in post-Katrina New Orleans and in Kentucky with Habitat for Humanity. Music was also a powerful force in Allen’s life, and he was often deeply moved by the music he was singing or hearing. He had a beautiful tenor voice and was a faithful member of the Wesley Singers and his church choirs. The opportunity to perform, as part of the choir, John Rutter’s Requiem at Carnegie Hall, and to be directed by Mr. Rutter for the performance, was a significant musical highlight in his life. He and his Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) fraternity brothers remained faithful to their annual reunion at Wildwood for more than fifty years, and continued their tradition of singing favorite songs from the 1950s.

The family cabin in the Pennsylvania mountains stands as a testament to Allen’s skilled craftsmanship and great love of the outdoors. The special place he helped build became the backdrop for years of cherished weekends and holidays, where laughter and togetherness filled the mountain air. He found deep joy in the simple pleasures of life at the cabin – hearing the creek “speak to him” from the porch, listening to Penn State and Steelers football games on the radio, playing spirited games of ping pong and horseshoes, and gathering his family and friends around a crackling fire to make perfectly golden or completely torched s’mores (depending on your order). The memories created at the cabin will remain a lasting testament to his dedication to family, his skilled hands, and his deep appreciation for time spent in nature.

Allen loved life. He loved a great story, a good meal, a breakfast with lots of toast, and a roaring fire, especially when accompanied by the singing of old songs. He will be dearly missed.

He has fought the good fight, he has finished the race, and he has kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7-8.

Give rest to thy servant with thy saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.

Arrangements by DeBord Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory.  In lieu of flowers, friends and loved ones are welcome to make donations in Allen’s memory to the Wounded Warrior Project, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, or Hospice & Community Care, 685 Good Drive, Lancaster PA, 17601.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a memorial service at Woodcrest Villa, 2001 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster, PA in the Gamber Auditorium on Friday, February 6, 2026 at 2:00 PM. The family will greet guests immediately following the service. To view the service virtually, please click the following link: https://my.gather.app/remember/allen-forbes-ii