Obituary of Gilbert Walter Allen

GILBERT WALTER ALLEN
"Gib”

With great sadness, yet thankful for a life well lived, the family of Gilbert announces his peaceful passing on March 24, 2024 at Valley Regional Hospital, Kentville NS, with loving family by his side.

Born in Liverpool NS on November 16, 1935 he was a son of Hantz and Carol (Pickles) Allen. He grew up in Milton, Queens County. He worked at Milton Nurseries, and A.D. Rafuse and Sons farm in Waterville before attending the N.S. Agricultural College and graduating with honours from the Advanced Farm Course in 1956.  On October 5, 1957 he married school teacher Dorothy Latham, and they settled in Kentville, while he worked for 7 years at the Kentville Research Station.

In August 1963 he fulfilled his childhood dream and bought the Don Bill farm in Billtown where he raised beef cattle and grew apples before venturing into what would bring him his great success, producing certified strawberry plants and raspberry canes. He was the first producer in Nova Scotia to ship strawberry plants to Florida. Gilbert and Dorothy were recognized for this innovation with the Outstanding Farmer Award from the Nova Scotia Institute of Agrologists in 1998. He was inducted into the Atlantic Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2019. Gilbert enjoyed his association with his customers, many of them becoming life long friends, and his family went on many trips to Florida.

Gilbert played an active role in his community over the course of his life. He was involved with the Boy Scouts becoming a Queen Scout then later as a leader. He was a member of the Nova Scotia Strawberry Growers Association, King’s County Federation of Agriculture, and in 2008 was made an honorary member of Horticulture Nova Scotia. As a member of Centreville Baptist Church he found great peace in his association there.

He retired from farming in 2003 when son Jeff followed in his footsteps and took over the farm. In his retirement Gilbert enjoyed spending time in the family’s Port Mouton house and several trips with Dorothy including to the Magdalene Islands, the Caribbean, and a month-long bus tour across America.

Friends and family were important to Gilbert throughout his life. He and Dorothy travelled to Ontario, British Columbia and other provinces to visit family, friends and colleagues. He enjoyed annual reunions with his NSAC class of ‘56 and in his later years was thankful for the kindness of his friends at Squatter’s Lodge with whom he regularly met for coffee. He was proud that his farming legacy will live on as Jeff’s son Patrick decided to join the family farm after graduating from the University of Guelph.

Gilbert will be greatly missed by his loving wife of 66 years, Dorothy (Latham); children, Janice (Marc) Potvin, Jeffrey (Cathy) Allen, and Joel (Melanie) Allen; grandchildren, David (Leandra) Potvin, Benjamin (Alyssa) Potvin, Sarah Potvin, Patrick Allen, Jonson Allen, Mhyah Allen, Madesen Allen; and great-grandsons,  Matteo Gilbert Carey Potvin and Walter Clark Potvin; also sister, Patricia (George) Mansfield; sister-in-law, Peggy Allen. He was predeceased by his parents, as well as brother James Allen; and sisters, Eleanor (George) Kempton and Barbara (Ernie) Cooper.

The family would like to express their deep appreciation to Dr. Robert Gunn who cared for him for 47 years. We appreciate his kind, caring ways. Many thanks also to the staff and doctors on Medical A at Valley Regional Hospital for their compassionate care for Gilbert during his final weeks.

The Funeral Service will be held at Centreville Baptist Church on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at 2:00 pm. There will be no visitation. Burial will be at a later date. The Service will be live-steamed at https://www.youtube.com/live/mVS1r_I42eM?si=989ps_AYVt9Na-ae.Donations in memory of Gilbert may be made to Centreville Baptist Church or Valley Regional Hospital. Arrangements have been entrusted to Serenity Funeral Home, 34 Coldbrook Village Park Dr., Coldbrook, NS, B4R 1B9 (902-679-2822).