Name: Russell Clifford Van Allen

                         Branch of Service: U.S. Army Air Forces

                         Unit:

                         Rank: PFC

                         Dates of Service: 10/12/1942-

                         Area of Service:

                         Van Allen Brothers' WWII Story, 1943

Russell Clifford Van Allen was born on December 9, 1914, in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; he was the son of Clifford Hemwood Van Allen (1871-1934) and Lavenia Jane "Janie" Fleming (1891-1988).  In 1930, Russell was living with his parents and siblings in Cunningham, Fluvanna County, Virginia.  Russell enlisted in the U.S. Army on October 13, 1942, and three of his brothers, Alfred, Kenneth Edward, and Roland Louis Van Allen, also enlisted in the U.S. military during WWII.  Russell and two of his Van Allen brothers are shown in the below photo with their mother, Janie, ca. 1942:

L to R:  Alfred Van Allen, Janie Van Allen, Harold Van Allen, Russell Clifford Van Allen; and Kenneth Edward Van Allen.

Russell married Molly Anderson (1915-2016) in ca. 1938; Mollie was the daughter of noted Virginia architect, D. Wiley Anderson and Sarah Graves (Wilkinson) Anderson of Scottsville, Virginia.  Shown below is a ca. 1942 photo of Mollie and Russell Clifford Van Allen.

Russell Clifford Van Allen passed away on November 17, 2006, in Richmond, Virginia, and he is buried beside his wife, Mollie, at Dale Memorial Park in Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, Virginia.

Russell Clifford Van Allen, 91, died November 17, 2006.  He was a founding member of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church of Richmond and Manchester Volunteer Rescue Squad.  He served 15 years with the Red Cross teaching first aid.  He was an accomplished amateur artist and was retired from the DuPont Spruance Plant as plant photographer with 43 years service.  He was a graduate of Scottsville High School, Scottsville, VA, and was the son of the late Clifford Van Allen and Janie Fleming Van Allen Pugh. 

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Mollie Anderson Van Allen, and sons, Keith Anderson Van Allen and Russell Henwood Van Allen; daughter-in-law, Linda Thomas Van Allen; granddaughter, Melody Van Allen Watts; and great grandson, Justin Daniel Watts.  He was preceded in death by his brothers, Alfred, Harold, Roland, and Kenneth.  A graveside service will be held on Saturday, November 25, 2006, at 11 am at Dale Memorial Park, 10201 Newbys Bridge Rd., Chesterfield, VA.  In lieu of flowers, contributions to St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 5155 Iron Bridge Rd., Richmond, VA 23234 are welcomed.