Allen Maurice Trafton, 84, of Toledo, Washington, passed on to his next adventure peacefully on the morning of Sept. 17, 2023. His children were with him in the home he built with his own hands.
Allen was born May 7, 1939, in Bellingham, Washington, to Robert and Dorcas Trafton. The family moved to Toledo in 1943 and it was the place Allen called home for most of his life.
He graduated from Toledo High School in 1958. He worked at the Toledo Telephone Co. for a short time before he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1960. After his time in the military, he worked in forestry and a lumberyard before a career at Reynolds Metals Company that lasted 31 years. He was a hard worker in all things and enjoyed a well-deserved 24- year retirement.
Allen went on a double date in 1959 but ended up catching the attention of the girl his friend was supposed to be dating. The attraction was mutual. In fact, Allen would drive more than 100 miles in his 1955 Mercury to pick up Sandra Rae Wood after her classes for dates. He always regretted selling that car. However, he didn't regret the miles he put on it getting to know Sandra. They got married in 1961.
In May of 1962, the newlyweds moved to Toledo for good. Their daughter, Linda, was born in July of that year. They also welcomed a son, Wayne, in January of 1964. Sandra and Allen broke ground on a house at the corner of Fifth and Washington streets in 1969. Allen built the house himself. He never stopped caring for it. He also kept a meticulously manicured lawn and had a knack for gardening that he fostered from childhood.
In his younger days, Allen also liked fishing, hunting and skiing with friends on Mount St. Helens. In his latter years, he was an avid reader and a gifted artist. He had a talent for painting beautiful landscapes. While he did enjoy traveling to other countries and places in the U.S., many of his paintings capture the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
In their later years together, Allen and Sandra enjoyed playing bingo and they took joy in being active at the Toledo Senior Center. They always cheered hard for Seattle's sports teams and were even more supportive of their family. In 2012, they were named the “Big Cheeses” at Toledo's annual Cheese Days celebrations. They spent 56 years married before Sandra's passing in 2017. We hope they're cruising a heavenly highway together in that '55 Mercury right now.
In death, Allen also rejoins both parents and his sister, Alice Ramsey, and her husband, Glenn.
Allen is survived by daughter, Linda; son, Wayne, and daughter-in-law, Michelle; brother, Gary Trafton (Cindy); four grandsons; three great-grandchildren; and nephews and nieces.
Allen’s life will be celebrated at a service at Toledo Presbyterian Church at 11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. He was a longtime member of the church. A luncheon will follow the service.
Memorials preferred in lieu of other expressions of sympathy include donations to the Toledo Senior Center or Toledo Scholarship Fund.
