Mary Veloy Allenbach
Mary Veloy Allenbach, 97, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by family on April 8, 2022.
Veloy was born on November 6, 1924, the first child and only daughter of F. Orval Singleton and Lavern Banks, in a rowhouse in Provo, Utah. Although she was a child of the Depression, she had a happy childhood playing with her brothers and neighborhood friends, usually in the street.
Upon graduation from junior high school, Veloy’s family moved to Springville, Utah. Due to wartime housing shortages, however, they were forced to move back to Provo only two years later. She fell in love with Springville High School, so she rode to school with her dad on the old Orem train every day so she could graduate as a Red Devil from Springville High.
After graduation she went to Brigham Young University. At the time she lived on 3rd South, 3rd West in Provo, and walked all the way to the campus every day. She loved BYU. She majored in drama and appeared in many plays and musicals. She belonged to Theta Alpha Phi, the national dramatic fraternity, as well as The BYU Mask Club, and was very active with the Provo Players Guild.
While at BYU she worked as a secretary for Dean Herald R. Clark, and then at the BYU Bookstore. She also worked for the State Bank of Provo, where she met many friends to whom she remained very close throughout her life.
Also while at BYU she met and fell in love with Herman Allenbach. They were married January 16, 1953 in the Salt Lake Temple. They moved to Vista, California, where she worked for the United States Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside. A short time later, they moved to Los Angeles, where Herman attended dental school and Veloy worked for the State of California Division of Agriculture. Their final move was to the state of Washington where they settled in Kent and raised their five children.
Veloy was always active in the LDS Church and joyfully filled many musical positions, including 50 years as a ward chorister. She wrote and produced many roadshows. She was a very talented soprano and started singing at a very early age. She sang in musicals, weddings, funerals, and ward choirs.
She also enjoyed her calling as the ward Cultural Refinement specialist, where she prepared elaborate presentations on many countries and customs. She always loved reading and learning about the history and culture of foreign countries.
Veloy was a gifted writer and poet and could often be found at her kitchen table writing in a notebook. She was proud to have many of her poems published.
Her favorite activities throughout her life were all centered around family. She loved going to softball games, traveling, being a magician’s assistant, riding on the back of her son’s Harley, and spending time with children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her five children: Jan Allenbach, Seattle, Washington; Brent (Laurie) Allenbach, Farmington, Utah; Richard (Pamela) Allenbach, Pleasant Grove, Utah; James (Sharon) Allenbach, Puyallup, Washington; Jill Layer, Vancouver, Washington; 16 grandchildren, and 28 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Herman, and brothers Richard, Gary, and Ray Singleton.
She will be loved and missed immensely by all who had the pleasure to know her and be touched by her sweet and joyful personality.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 23 at 11:00 am at the Mount Mahogany 8th ward building, 1541 North 1300 West, Pleasant Grove, Utah. A viewing will be held prior to the funeral from 9:00 to 10:30 am. Interment will follow at the Spanish Fork Cemetery.
Funeral Directors: Utah Valley Mortuary. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.uvfuneral.com.