Nolan Thomas "Tom" Allen

Nolan Thomas “Tom” Allen, 88, of New Castle went home to be with the Lord on Friday, June 5, 2026 while surrounded by his loving family. He was born on November 25, 1937 in Westport, Indiana to the late Nolan F. and Mildred Lucille (Biddinger) Allen.

Tom graduated from Sandcreek High School in 1956, Franklin College in 1960 (’76 Hall of Fame Inductee) earning his bachelor’s degree and Indiana State University earning his master’s degree in education. Tom embarked on an extensive career as a high school football coach, impacting countless lives at schools across Indiana, including New Point, Morocco (where he met his beloved wife, Janet S. Allen); as Head Coach at North Newton, Benton Central, and New Castle Chrysler High. Tom was a long-time member of the Indiana High School Football Coaches Association. He retired from coaching in 1988 and taught elementary physical education with New Castle Community School Corporation until his retirement in 2000.

In Tom’s earlier years, you could always catch him outdoors, loving to hunt and fish. He was a licensed carpenter and craftsman, building many garages and many other types of construction work around Henry County. Tom always had a large garden of fruits and vegetables that he enjoyed tending to. After retiring, he started Allen’s Strawberries, a farm in rural Henry County where he could be found always working outside.

Tom was a steadfast pillar of Grace Baptist Church in New Castle for over 45 years, where he had served as Deacon most of those years and served in other various roles. Ultimately, he will be remembered not just as a coach or craftsman, but as a mentor who instilled the virtues of faith and family in everyone he met, finding his greatest happiness in the time spent surrounded by his cherished children and grandchildren.

Tom is survived by the love of his life, whom he married on February 10, 1967, Janet S. Allen; four children, Nate (Denise) Allen of Madison Heights, Michigan, Christy (Dr. Todd) Terrill of Crown Point, Indiana, Tommy (Tracy) Allen of Clemson, South Carolina and Alisha (Jeremy) Vegter of Lafayette, Indiana; grandchildren, Rachel, Samuel, Andrew and Jack Allen, Caytlin Terrill, Zachary (Shariden) Terrill, Hannah (Santos) Cantu, Thomas (Annika) Allen, Brittney (Bryson) Lucero and Joel and Josiah Vegter; great grandchildren, Dage, Collins, Tommy, Athena, Evie and a baby boy due in July; siblings, Bonnie Gross-Rehm of Indianapolis, Joyce (Reuben) Kissel of Westport, Jim (Karen) Allen of Columbus, Larry (Mickey) Allen of Letts, Kevin (Barb) Allen of Westport, Greg (Virginia) Allen of Westport and Brad (Leslie) Allen of Phoenix, Arizona and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by an infant sister, Sharon Kay Allen and brothers, Donald Gene Allen and Ronald Walter Allen.

A service to celebrate the wonderful life of Tom Allen will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 13, 2026 at Grace Baptist Church with Pastors Brian and Denny Neal officiating. Burial will follow at Locust Grove Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Friday, June 12 at Grace Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations in Tom’s memory may be made to the Grace Baptist Church Building Fund, 2649 Q. Ave. New Castle, IN 47362. Arrangements have been entrusted to Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service in New Castle. You may express condolences or share a memory of Tom at www.hinsey-brown.com.