Allen Millward

Allen Ray Millward, 79, of Idaho Falls, Idaho and Yuma, Arizona, departed this world on October 29, 2024, from a GI tear. He was preceded in death by his parents Fay and Margaret Millward and sister Shirley Foster. He is survived by his wife Barbara Gee Millward; daughters: Pamela John (Trent) and Jennifer Rhead; grandchildren: Kelsey Ray Rhead (Manuel), Jason Cody Rhead (Sierra), Andrea Danielle Moore (Christopher), and Teagan Brandon John (Payton); and great-grandchildren: Oliver Allen Rhead, Lila Vee Moore, and Fae Eleanor John.

Allen was a hard-working man, devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend who made the best out of challenging situations while continually learning along the way.

Allen was born in Oakland California and spent most of his childhood in St. Anthony, Idaho. His early life was marked by challenges and his schoolwork reflected it. He sought comfort in the outdoors, spending many days fishing and exploring with his friends. From a young age, he learned the value of hard work, picking worms to buy his first gun and flipping cars to buy his dream car, a 1938 DeSoto.

Many people played pivotal roles in helping Allen throughout his life including a supportive principal who encouraged him to graduate from South Fremont High School, Sid Chase who provided him with his first “real job” as an electrical apprentice, and co-workers at Falls Electric and the site who taught Allen how to build and fix anything. This foundation enabled him to move into management and ultimately become a cost estimator–all with just a high school diploma.

The person who influenced Allen the most was Barbara Gee Millward. Little did he know that a blind date would give him a fun-loving, supportive wife of almost 57 years. Allen loved Barbara and appreciated everything that she did for him, especially after he went blind.

With Barbara came a motley crew of in-laws. Together, they created countless memories, whether fishing, dirt biking, camping, golfing, dancing, snowmobiling, road-tripping, bike riding, playing games, rafting, cruising and most of all laughing. Allen was never alone again; he found joy in the vibrant chaos of Barbara’s family.

As a father, Allen was exemplary. He provided love, adventure, education, and support to his daughters, Pam and Jen, encouraging them to embrace life’s challenges with confidence. His memories with them — like those summer soccer tournaments and teaching Pam to navigate difficult terrain on her dirt bike–are a testament to his impact on their lives.

Allen’s love extends to his four grandchildren, Kelsey, Cody, Andrea, and Teagan who shared countless adventures including rafting trips, family reunions, Heise Hot Springs, tractor rides, fishing, talking cars, playing games, and going to Yuma, Mexico, California, Utah, New Mexico and Washington as a family.

Allen had a passion for cars and did most of the work himself. He was a member of multiple car clubs where he made lifelong friends with other hotrodders. He enjoyed going to car shows and showing off his black and yellow 1955 Crown Victoria hotrod named BeeCuzz and his rebuilt red and white 1955 Crown Victoria.

Despite losing his vision due to a growth on his pituitary gland in 2000, he continued to work on his cars, hike to the bottom of Bryce Canyon, float many rivers, and ride his bicycle-built-for-two on multiple trails in Spokane, Ashton-to-Driggs scenic byway, and Hiawatha Trail.

He loved the sunshine, of course with plenty of sunscreen, and spent winters in Yuma where he also forged life-long friendships over happy hours, playing card games, attending music jams, taking trips to Algodones Mexico, partying and laughing.

Allen was a quiet teacher, sharing his wealth of knowledge on everything from recommending his latest good book on tape to sharing his knowledge on home repair, auto repair, the stock market, and more. His curiosity for technology kept him ahead of the curve, he loved introducing others to the latest gadgets. He truly believed in the power of learning and passing it forward.

Allen lived a rich life, overcoming obstacles and building a legacy of love, resilience, and adventure. As we remember him, let us carry forward the lessons he taught us and the love he so freely shared.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Allen’s memory to the library that gave him countless hours of enjoyment through books on tape. https://libraries.idaho.gov/donations/ or to your local library.

Thank you, Allen, for the love and joy you brought into our lives. You will be missed.

Please see the pictures at this link: https://memorialsource.com/memorial/allen-ray-millward

Memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 First Street, Idaho Falls. The family will visit with friends one hour prior to services. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.coltirnmortuary.com.