Allen Lee Bailiff

Allen Lee Bailiff, born in 1941 in Rule, Texas (Stamford area), passed away in Stroudsburg, PA on April 20, 2026, leaving behind a life defined by resilience, humor, and generosity. He was the beloved son of Rena Belle Bailiff (née Ragland) and Howard Knight Bailiff, and the ninth of ten children—seven boys and three girls.

Allen was raised on a farm near Abilene, Texas, where he developed the grit and ingenuity that would shape him into a highly successful businessman. As a teen, he displayed an early entrepreneurial streak—famously trading fireworks for liquor to sell in his dry county.

He proudly served in the United States Marine Corps. He was in the Reserves in Sonora, Texas when he married Charlotte Dewberry, with whom he had three children. He graduated from Texas Tech University, supporting himself during college by working at the post office, where he became known for memorizing every zip code in Texas. After graduation, Allen shared his love of logic and practical skills as a math and driver’s education teacher in Lubbock, Texas.

Allen went on to open and operate several extremely successful restaurants in Maryland and Florida (Tampa, Bradenton, and Orlando). He later transitioned into sales, where his natural charisma and strong work ethic led to an award-winning career in the timeshare industry for Orange Lake Country Club, Camelback, Rank-Ahnert properties, and The Manhattan Club among others. His work took him from Florida and Texas to Manhattan, Las Vegas, and The Poconos.

Allen settled in Stroudsburg, PA in 1990, where he met his longtime partner, Alice Luongo, with whom he spent the rest of his days—with the love of his life, as Allen always said. In retirement, they provided low-income housing to underserved communities. Allen was dedicated to his renters, making sure their housing needs were met, going so far as to teach himself plumbing in his late-70s. He took great pride in helping many of his renters become first-time homeowners—quietly changing lives.

Allen was up for any challenge, always willing to lend a hand and show up for the people in his life. He was an avid golfer, proudly scoring two holes-in-one, and enjoyed Texas Hold’em, pool, trivia, and crossword puzzles. He was a member of the Elks Lodge #319 in East Stroudsburg. He enjoyed travel and cruising, with favorite destinations including Israel, China, Turkey, Greece, and Santorini. He was known for his legendary chicken-fried steak and his quick wit—his sense of humor was one of his most enduring gifts.

Allen is survived by his children, Christine, Bryan (and Shannon), and Clinton, their mother, Charlotte Dewberry; his longtime partner, Alice Luongo, and her children Lisa, Sarah (and Jim) McCarroll, and Julie (and Michael Williams); and his beloved grandchildren—who knew him as “Gambo”—Colton, Alexis, Autumn, Ciara, Sheamus, Tierney, and Blaise. He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him.

In his final act of generosity, Allen chose to donate his body to science to advance medical education. Bensing-Thomas is handling arrangements. A private memorial gathering will be held at a later date.