ALLEN RYAN CHRISTENSEN's Obituary
LTC Allen Ryan Christensen, USA (Ret.), age 82 of Ashburn, VA died peacefully in hospice after a period of declining health on Sunday, February 12, 2023. He lived as a loving son, husband, father, and grandfather; a soldier and patriot; a compassionate brother to his fellow man; and a devout follower of Jesus Christ. A visitation will be held on Saturday, March 11 at 11am at Loudoun Funeral Chapel, 158 Catoctin Cir SE, Leesburg, VA. A funeral Mass will immediately follow at 1pm at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 21370 St Theresa Ln, Ashburn, VA. The burial will take place at Arlington National Cemetery, at a later date to be announced.
Allen was born March 2, 1940, in Nashville, TN. He served his nation with distinction in the United States Army before his retirement at the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1988. He enlisted in 1958 and received a commission of Infantry and B.S. in engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1963. He served two combat tours in Vietnam as an infantry platoon leader and a company commander in 1965-1966 and 1968-1969. Allen was awarded two Silver Star Medals and two Bronze Star Medals with 'V' device for heroism in combat, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and numerous other commendations. His Army assignments included service in the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell and in Vietnam, the 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam, the 2nd Armored Division in Germany, as an ROTC instructor at the University of Delaware, and at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. After his military career, Allen worked at McDonnell Douglas and the Boeing Corporation until his final retirement in 2011. He spent his remaining years writing about his experiences in Vietnam, collecting BMWs, and spending as much time as possible with his grandchildren.
Allen met Josephine Christensen (née Randazzo), his loving wife of 52 years, in 1970 while he attended Tulane University, where he received an M.S. in operations research in 1972. They were married at St. Louis King of France Church in Metairie, La. in 1971. In the years that followed, Allen and Josephine had two daughters and a son. Following years of the prayers and example of his devoted wife, Allen was formally received into the Catholic Church in 2019 at St. Theresa Parish in Ashburn, Va. He had previously attended St. Theresa and the parish of St. Pius X in Bowie, Md. for many years. Both before and after his conversion to Catholicism, Allen lived as an example of Christian charity. He was a lifelong and generous donor to charitable causes, and personally gave food to those less fortunate on his daily commute through Washington, D.C. He served as a model parent, spouse, and Christian for his children. Among his last words, Allen spoke of his hopeful anticipation of the Beatific Vision by allusion to Jn. 14:2-4: "In my Father's house there are many mansions. If not, I would have told you: because I go to prepare a place for you. And if I shall go, and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will take you to myself; that where I am, you also may be."
Allen is survived by his wife Josephine, three children, six grandchildren, and three sisters: His daughter Tiffany Albertelli of Jacksonville, Fl., and her children Michael, Anna, Marie, and Julia; his daughter Jessica Nicholson of Leesburg, Va. and her husband Conor and their children Claire and Maxwell; his son Jonathan Christensen of Alexandria, Va.; and his sisters Nona Ballard, Elaine Gates, and Carol Christensen. Allen was predeceased by his parents, Arthur and Sara (née Ryan) Christensen.
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