Charles Claybourne Allen, a longtime resident of Lisle, IL, and Newport News, VA, passed away on January 20, at the age of 81. Mr. Allen lived a full life marked by a strong devotion to family, friends, and public service. He was highly principled, rigorously analytical, and ingeniously pragmatic; Mr Allen was much sought for his counsel and is dearly missed. He was the third child of John Christopher Allen, Jr, and Margaret B Colvert Allen. He is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Dr Sallie M Tucker-Allen, and his three children: Charles Claybourne Allen, II, John Christopher Allen, IV, and Sallie Monique Allen Symons. He is also survived by three cherished grandchildren – Lindsey Margaret Allen, Cecilia Louise Allen, and Nathaniel Claybourne Tucker Allen – and treasured siblings John Christopher Allen, III, Beverly Ann Allen Henderson, and Lynne Colvert Allen. Mr Allen graduated from Hampton University in 1958, then served in the U.S. Army based at Fort Hood, leaving the service as a Captain. In 1963, he earned a Master of Science in Urban Planning from Columbia University School of Architecture. After graduate school, Mr Allen joined Clarke & Rapuano where he executed urban and community renewal programs. In 1968, as the Director of Planning & Development for Gary, IN, Mr Allen developed the prototype for the Community Development Block Grant, which is now commonly used in cities across the country. After his tenure in Gary, he spent two years in North Carolina as General Manager of Soul City, a new town development corporation. In 1975, Mr Allen returned to the Chicago area to join Wendell Campbell Associates as Vice President. He returned to his hometown of Newport News in 1988 as Deputy Director of Planning. In 1992, he was elected to the Newport News City Council as an Independent candidate. Mr Allen served as Vice Mayor of Newport News for 12 years. Mr Allen became a Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners (FAICP) in 2004. He was a charter member of the American Planning Association (APA), serving on the APA Board of Directors from 1979-1982. He has been a lifetime member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, joining Beta Chi Chapter in 1955. Mr Allen was a longtime member of St John’s Episcopal Church of Naperville, IL, where he served on the vestry including as Senior Warden, and St Augustine’s Episcopal Church of Newport News, VA.