Ann Griffith Allen, 58 Obituary

Ann Griffith Allen, 58 attended Winter Haven High School in Winter Haven, FL. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Ann Griffith Allen, 58.

Graduation Year	Class of 1969
Date of Passing	Mar 14, 2011
About	ANN GRIFFITH ALLEN, 58 WINTER HAVEN - Ann Griffith Allen, 58, died peacefully at home on March 14, 2011, after a lengthy illness, from complications of Frontotemporal dementia. www.theaftd.org The daughter of Dr. N. J. and Florrie Griffith, Ann was born in Winter Haven Florida on April 26, 1952. She had a life long passion for horses and riding, and from childhood through her teens, was involved in the competition and show areas of horsemanship. After graduating from Winter Haven High School in 1969, she studied at Hollins College in Virginia, Schiller College in Berlin, Germany, and received her BA in Journalism from Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. She and her husband, Jim, were married on May 22, 1976, and both were active with the Allen Ranch where they raised horses, cattle, citrus and any stray dogs or cats that needed a home. They enjoyed boating and snorkeling, the beach at Boca Grande and both shared a love for opera and classical music. While horses and animals captured her heart, her eye for design and fashion became the cornerstone of her career. She worked with John Wood's Homes as a decorator, in the Salon at Rheinauers of Winter Haven as a retail consultant, and at Andy Thornal's Expedition Outfitters in the fine jewelry department. She was an avid supporter of the arts and was a Trustee on the board of Theater Winter Haven; a member of the Junior Leagues of Winter Haven and Lakeland and an active member of the SPCA and Humane Society. She was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. Newell J. Griffith and Florrie Collins Griffith of Winter Haven, her husband, James E. Allen, Jr. of Auburndale. She is survived by her brothers Steve (Laura) Griffith of Winter Haven, and Peter (Esther Fleischmann) of Baltimore; her stepdaughter Michelle (David) McIntire of Kansas City, MO and their children, Owen and Chloe; her brother-in-law Ralph (Joanne) Allen of Lakeland; her aunt and uncle, Dr. Robert (Virginia) Dunlap of Knoxville, Tennessee; uncle George A. Collins Jr. of Perry Florida; nephews Collin Griffith and Evan Griffith; nieces, Ginny (Mike) Houghton, Stephanie Griffith, Ruth Griffith, Melissa (Brian) Van Hoose, and Maria Maria Griffith; and dear friends Larry and Linda Armstrong. A celebration of her life will be held at Grace Lutheran Church on Monday, April 4 at 11am. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in her name be made to a charity of your choice, or Alzheimer's & Dementia Resource Center, 1506 Lake Highland Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. www.abrccares.org The Humane Society of Polk County, 555 Sage Road, Winter Haven, FL 33881-8233. www.humansocietyofpolkcounty.org Theatre Winter Haven, P.O. Box 1230, Winter Haven, FL 33883-2-1230www.theatrewinterhaven.com Grace Lutheran Church, 327 Avenue C, SE, Winter Haven, FL 33880.www.glwh.org Published in Ledger on March 20, 2011