Herbert Allen O'Neil

Allen O’Neil went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at the age of 84. Allen, a long time resident of Arlington, Texas was born in Oklahoma in August of 1941 to Herbert C. O’Neil and Naomi O’Neil.

Growing up, Allen had fond memories of his extended family. On the O’Neil side, he had eight aunts and uncles and 18 cousins. The O’Neil family was infamous for its Thanksgiving Family Reunions where “passing” the rolls took on a very literal definition. On his mother’s side, his favorite memory was making homemade pie crusts with his grandmother and exploring her neighborhood with his cousins.

Allen attended the University of Central Oklahoma where he met his future wife, Jackie, whom he would marry in 1967. Allen graduated college in 1972 with a BA in Accounting.

Throughout his life, Allen maintained a servant’s heart, most likely instilled in him at an early age while striving towards his Eagle Scout rank in the Boy Scouts of America where he quickly adopted the three points of the Scout Oath: Do your Duty to God and your Country, Do your Duty to others, and Do your Duty to yourself. Allen loved his church, Lamar Baptist Church in Arlington where he served as a Deacon, children’s Sunday School teacher, RA leader, cooked for youth camp many years at Falls Creek, went on mission trips, and helped with the multi-media team on Sunday mornings. He was also very proud to have served his country for 22 years starting with the U.S. Air Force and then in the Oklahoma Army National Guard where he achieved the rank of Major. Allen enjoyed supporting his children. Whether it was enduring the sweltering Texas heat on a Scout campout, trekking across town for countless soccer games, or spending 100s of hours in a Texas Ranger’s concession stand raising money for the high school band and the Scout Troop, Allen never said no to making sure his kid’s activities were successful. Even as his own children went off to college, Allen’s passion for Scouting continued. Allen served as both an Assistant Scoutmaster and then Scoutmaster of Arlington’s Troop 186 where he helped a number of Scouts achieve the rank of Eagle Scout, took many a Scouts to summer camp at Worth Ranch, and made two trips to Charles L. Sommers Canoe Base in Minnesota.

Later in life Allen enjoyed many favorite pastimes. Pastimes such as watching old movies. He had several favorites that he would gladly watch over and over again. Movies such as Shane, 12 O’Clock High, The Great Escape, Stalag 17, and anything with John Wayne. He loved going to his grandkids’ soccer games, baseball games, band concerts, and choir concerts. ...and he especially enjoyed game days with the grandkids playing Monopoly, Scrabble, and Chicken Foot. No week was complete without a meal at Al’s Hamburgers in Arlington, typically on Friday nights. ...and most leisure activities had to be accompanied by his favorite snack combo, a Snickers Bar and a Coke.

Allen is survived by his wife; his two children and their spouses; four grandchildren; his brother; two sisters-in-law; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial services are currently pending