Virginia Lou Allen, age 75 of Clinton, Missouri passed away Saturday, November 13, 2010.
Funeral services will be 6:00 P.M., Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at Vansant-Mills Chapel, Clinton. Cremation to follow the service. Family will receive friends one hour before the service on Wednesday at the chapel. Family suggests contributions to Crossroads Hospice and may be left at the funeral home. Fond memories may be left online at www.vansant-millsfuneralhome.com.

Lou was born March 12, 1935 in Kansas City, Missouri to Virgil Thomas and Dorothy (McCarthy) Langley. She graduated from Westport High School in Kansas City, Missouri in l953. Virginia married Charles Leonard Allen on September 4, 1954 in Kansas City, Missouri and they just celebrated 56 years together. Throughout their marriage, Virginia and Charles loved and cared for more than 35 foster children and became strong advocates for adoption. In 1972, Virginia and Charles opened a Dairy Queen in Raytown, Missouri and successfully operated the business until moving to Clinton in 1978, when they purchased the local Dairy Queen. Throughout their years in business, Virginia and Charles received regional, national and international awards recognizing their success and leadership in the Dairy Queen organization and greater business community. They continued to own and operate the Clinton Dairy Queen until retiring in 1999. While in Dairy Queen, Virginia and Charles also opened and operated the Royal Palms for several years, which was a very popular local restaurant and lounge in Clinton. Throughout their years in the business community, Virginia was a strong supporter and sponsor for multiple civic, charitable and community organizations in and around the Clinton area. They were also strong supporters of foreigh exchange student programs and was a host family to several international students.

Virginia is survived by her husband, Charles L. Allen of the home; their children and grandchildren, Martha Allen of Humansville, Missouri, Chuck Allen of Clinton, Louann Allen of Muncie, Indiana, Brian Allen and wife, Shelly and their children, Jamie, Jack and Jenny Allen of Columbia, Missouri; Sean Allen and children, Shelby, Britine, Josh and Shelby, of Columbia, Missouri; and Mark Allen and wife, Karla and son, Caillou of Clinton, Missouri.