John Kenneth Allyn

John “Jack” Kenneth Allyn, 79, of Lakeland, Florida, passed away peacefully with his beloved wife by his side on Wednesday December 2, 2021 at the Florida Presbyterian Homes due to complications of Parkinson’s disease. Born July 26, 1942 in Coral Gables Florida he was the son of the late Kenneth and Mabel (Walsh) Allyn. Jack was a soldier, minister, and a born leader. After graduating from the University of Miami with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Commercial Art and ROTC military training, he was commissioned on September 11, 1965 as a Second Lieutenant, Field Artillery Branch in the U.S. Army. In 1971 he left active duty to attend Princeton Theological Seminary, graduating with a Master of Divinity Degree. After being ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA) he returned to active duty in 1974 as a chaplain. Over the years he was a Battalion, Brigade and Installation Chaplain, as well as Ethics Instructor for the Signal School at Ft. Gordon, Georgia. He was a veteran of two tours in Vietnam as an artillery soldier and a tour in Operation Desert Shield/Storm where he served as the 2nd COSCOM Chaplain, training 62 Unit Ministry Teams serving 26, 000 soldiers in Saudi Arabia. After retiring from the Army in 1992, he went on to be the pastor of Lakeshore Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville, Florida until 2003, when he and his wife AnnaBelle fulfilled a lifelong dream of living on a sailboat. After four years aboard Sojourner they retired to Florida Presbyterian Homes in Lakeland, Florida to continue relaxing and enjoying their native Florida. Jack was not just a soldier or minister. He was also a husband, father, avid sailor and artist. He and his beloved AnnaBelle knew each other since birth, as their parents were part of the same circle of friends. On April 23, 1966 Jack married the girl next door and they shared many years together, expanding their family to include two daughters. As a couple, they ministered to other couples through the Couple Communication and Marriage Enrichment programs. As a family, they enjoyed exploring the U.S. and Europe while relocating to different military installations in Georgia, New York, Texas, and Germany. And whenever possible, they were on their sailboat Juniper Tree. Jack was the skipper with AnnaBelle as his first mate and his daughters rounding out the crew. They sailed in regattas on Sundays afternoons and skied to church in Germany when the cars were snowed in. No matter the city or country they were in, Jack always put family first. He loved his girls and they never doubted that love. And that love and dedication extended to the soldiers he ministered, the families in all the different churches he pastored, and to basically anyone he met. Jack strived to embody God’s love and compassion. His motto, which was printed in bulletins at every church he preached in, stated, “There are no strangers here, only friends we have not met yet”. Jack is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, AnnaBelle Minear Allyn; along with two daughters Rebecca (Clayton) Spencer, Laurabeth Allyn, and grandson Benjamin Spencer, all of Jacksonville, Illinois; sister Joyce (Bob) Coleman of Georgetown, Texas; as well as other relatives, and all the strangers around the world who became friends. A Memorial Service for Jack Allyn will be held on March 11 at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel at the Florida Presbyterian Homes. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the National Military Family Association at www.militaryfamily.org.