of Little Rock, AR

November 22, 1937 - June 29, 2023

Dr. Ruth Marie Allen died on June 29, 2023 at age 85. She was born in Saginaw, Michigan on November 22, 1937, the only child of Dr. Dalton and Marie (Osterbeck) Allen. She was very close to her parents and made many lasting friendships throughout her life. She loved her dogs like family and was survived by the last of her many rescued cocker spaniels, Sara.

After graduating from Arthur Hill High School in Saginaw, Dr. Allen pursued college and professional experiences across the country and internationally. At the University of Michigan, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Physics in 1959. At Michigan State University, she earned her Master of Science degree in Biochemistry in 1961 and PhD in Instructional Design and Technology in 1972.  She served in the Peace Corps in Malaysia and traveled around the world throughout her life, sometimes in search of her beloved orchids, often for adventure with friends and family. Ruth was passionate about animals, horticulture, and orchestral music.

Dr. Allen was committed to student learning and designed educational programs and experiences including pioneering distance learning programs for medical sciences students in rural areas. Highlights of her academic career include serving as Associate Professor and Nursing Education Specialist at Wichita State University in Kansas; Associate Professor and Director of the Learning Resource Center at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas; and she served in several capacities while working at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Arkansas, including as Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs in the College of Health Professions, she also worked in the Office of Educational Development; and she served as an educational evaluator in the Department of Geriatrics. 

Dr. Allen twice served as a visiting professor in China, where she taught medical sciences students how to use technology at the Shanghai Medical University and in biomedical communications at Zhejiang Medical University. Among her many professional associations, she was a charter member of the Association of Biomedical Communications Directors. She was a prolific collaborator on many publications and presentations focused on instructional technology, assessing student learning, training faculty on evaluation, and assessing clinical skills of medical students.

To provide opportunities for students and faculty to have the resources they needed to be successful, she endowed several scholarship programs. She established three endowments at Michigan State University for Students of Horticulture Studying Abroad, for Medical Education, and for Veterinary Medicine.

In retirement, Dr. Allen volunteered at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service where she established the Dr. Ruth Allen Scholarship. She also volunteered at the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra where she performed research for the organization. To share her passion for orchestral music with students, staff, and faculty at UMAS, she endowed the Dr. Ruth Marie Allen Concert Series which provides two annual concerts performed by members of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.

She also created an endowment at the Arkansas Community Foundation to benefit the gardens at Wildwood Park for the Arts, where she volunteered for several years. The Ruth Allen Dogwood Trail at Wildwood Park was named in her honor.

Family and friends will miss her holiday letters that were always a fascinating summary of her adventures, orchids, dogs, and projects. Ruth was very close to her cousins Rick and Paul Osterbeck, and the late Dr. John W. Hall and his wife Ann Hall. Her regular birthday calls and check-ins are already greatly missed by her cousin John Hall Jr. and his wife Stephanie.

Family and friends will gather for a celebration of Dr. Ruth Allen's life on Saturday, September 16, 2023 at 11 am at Wildwood Park. Arrangements have been made possible thanks to the gracious support of Ruth's friends at Wildwood Park. In Ruth's memory, please call an old friend, send a birthday greeting, take that dream trip, or even adopt a pet.

If you would like to reach Dr. Allen's family, please contact them via jhall@datalyzer.com.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Chenal Funeral Home
13801 Chenal Parkway
Little Rock, AR  72211
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com