Mark David Allen

Mark David Allen, aged 65 of Fairborn, OH, passed away peacefully, in the comfort of home, surrounded by his family, Tuesday, September 8, 2026. He was born on July 31, 1961, in Dayton, OH, the son of Gary Dean and Alice Josephine (Williams) Allen.

Mark was a man who loved deeply and lived in a way that stayed true to who he was. Strong in his faith, God-fearing, and devoted to his family, he carried himself with a steady kind of strength. He loved his family fiercely, and if there was anything he held closest in this world, it was the people he loved—especially his wife, his sons, his grandchildren, and his friends. He was proud of his family above all else, and that pride showed in the way he lived every day.

For many years, Mark worked as a wood worker with Benner's Woodworking in Lebanon, OH. He loved working with wood and with his hands, and there was something fitting in that work for a man who appreciated honest labor, skill, and making something lasting. He was the kind of person who found meaning in doing things well and putting care into what he created.

Mark also served in the United States Army for eight years, a chapter of his life he always held with pride and remembered fondly. His time there mattered to him, and it remained an important part of his story.

He was, plain and simple, an outdoorsman. He loved being outside and felt at home in the natural world. His annual trips to the Boundary Waters and Quetico Provincial Park in Minnesota, filled with cherished days of fishing and canoeing, held a special place in his heart and became treasured memories for his family. Those good, solid moments that says a lot about the kind of man he was and the kind of memories he leaves behind.

Mark was also a loyal fan through and through. He loved Cincinnati Bengals football, Cincinnati Reds baseball, and Ohio State Buckeyes football. He loved his Ohio teams, and that enthusiasm was part of the everyday joy he brought to life.

Mark is preceded in death by his father and baby brother. He is survived by his wife, Paula Allen; two sons, Erick (Mary) Allen, Shawn (Brandy) Allen; mother; five grandchildren, Kendal, Joey, Kennedy Lee, Anthony, Kennedy Kay; sister, Lisa (Jay) Stacey; nieces, Jacque, Aubre, Grace; extended family; and many friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 3:00 PM, Saturday, September 26, 2026, at the Belton-Stroup Funeral Home, 422 E. Dayton-Yellow Springs Road, Fairborn, OH, 45324. The family will receive friends from 2:00 PM until the time of service, Pastor Glen LeMaster officiating. Arrangements in care of Belton-Stroup Funeral Home, Fairborn, OH.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider honoring Mark’s memory by planting something that will grow, giving a potted plant to someone special, planting a native tree in your yard, or sharing a desert cactus with a friend. In this way, his memory can continue to take root and bring joy to others.