Nancy VanAllen Obituary

NANCY VAN ALLEN Nancy Van Allen was born Nancy Annan Henry on Oct 26, 1936 in Kearney, NB. She was the third child of John and Jane Gibbons Henry. As a young girl, Nancy was struck with polio and paralyzed. Her mother and grandmother prayed for her, and she was completely healed. Nancy went to boarding school in St. Louis, MO and worked summers at the newsstand in her father's hotel. She majored in Economics and lettered in sports at Stanford University, playing in the marching band at football games. Stanford is where she met Jim Boyle, who had served as a paratrooper in the Korean War. Jim and Nancy got married in 1958. Jim finished law school a year later, and with their new baby girl, they sailed to the Territory of Hawai'i, where Jim would ultimately become a full partner at Carlsmith, Carlsmith, Wichman and Case - the oldest and largest law firm in Hawai'i. They first lived in Hilo, where their home was lifted into the neighbor's yard by a tidal wave. In Hilo, they had their first son. They would later move to Honolulu, where Nancy gave birth to her second son. Nancy was an active volunteer in many organizations (an understatement) and ran countless tournaments in tennis, paddle tennis and golf at Waialae, the Pacific Club and Oahu CC. Several years after Jim Boyle passed away, Nancy met and married Colonel William Van Allen of Reno. After Bill Van Allen's passing, Nancy returned to Honolulu, where she enjoyed close to another twenty years of a full and engaging life. Nancy and Jim Witten were constant companions for five years. She was very involved with her church, First Presbyterian at Ko'olau. Nancy is survived by her brother Charles Henry (Robin), sister Maren, daughter Susan Slawson (Eli), sons Thomas Boyle, David Boyle (Stephanie) and granddaughter Zoey. Nancy made scores of lifelong friends throughout her journey by being generous of spirit, having a selfless work ethic and the way she carried herself.