Susan Allen

Susan Elaine Martin Allen, 68, of Dern Road, Emmitsburg, Md., died Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015 at Frederick Memorial Hospital.

Born Dec. 19, 1946 in Gettysburg, Pa., she was a daughter of the late George J. and Anna Margaret Sayler Martin of Emmitsburg.

She graduated from Emmitsburg High School in 1964 and from Western Maryland College in 1968. She pursued graduate studies in American history at the University of Maryland College Park and later worked at the National Archives in Washington D.C.

Upon returning to Frederick County after many years living across the United States and overseas in Asia, she began working as a substitute teacher with Frederick County Public Schools. She worked at schools in the northern part of Frederick County, teaching students in Emmitsburg, Thurmont, Sabillasville, Lewistown, Woodsboro, New Midway and Walkersville for over 15 years.

She loved to sing, and shared the gift of her voice in church choirs and community choruses in Hong Kong, Charlotte, N.C., Hampton, Va., and Seoul, South Korea, as well as in her hometown with the Emmitsburg Community Chorus. She also performed in an a cappella quartet with her sister and brothers, singing hymns and patriotic songs at family and community events.

She contributed articles to the Emmitsburg Dispatch and Catoctin Banner community newspapers.

She was a member of Incarnation United Church of Christ in Emmitsburg, where she sang in the choir and taught Sunday school for many years.

She was a board member and active volunteer with the Emmitsburg Community Food Bank.

She was a board member of the Friends of the Emmitsburg Library.

She was a member of the Emmitsburg High School Alumni Association.

She was a member of the Emmitsburg Council of Churches, serving as secretary  at the time of her passing. She led the music at the Council’s Vacation Bible School every summer for many years.

She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Jay; two children, Rebecca H.G. Allen and husband, Dan Rambert, of Woodbine, Md. and David G. Allen and wife, Lindsay, of West Deptford, N.J.; grandson Louis Allen Rambert, of Woodbine, Md.; sister Edith L. Long, of Emmitsburg, brothers James D. Martin of Hagerstown, Md. and John R. Martin and wife, Imogene, of Frederick, Md; niece Angela S. Forrest, of Thurmont, Md.; nephews Brian T. Long and wife, Jean, of Thurmont, Md., and Christopher G. Martin, of Frederick, Md. She made friends everywhere she went and will be remembered by countless friends and loved ones in Frederick County and around the world.

The family will receive friends from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11 at Stauffer Funeral Home, 104 E. Main Street, Thurmont.

A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12 at Incarnation United Church of Christ, 124 W. Main St., Emmitsburg.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to the charity of one's choice.

Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.staufferfuneralhome.com.