Marvin Eugene Allen

ALLEN, Marvin Eugene "Marv" - age 82, of Howell, passed away May 24, 2025. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM Saturday, June 14, 2025 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 600 N. Adelaide St., Fenton, MI 48430 with Rev. Fr. Robert Copeland celebrant. The family will receive family and friends from 10 AM - 11 AM on Saturday, June 14 at the church. At Marv’s request, the family kindly asks that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. (www.stjude.org). Marvin was born July 11, 1942, in Milwaukee, WI; the son of Eugene and Vernetta (Weske) Allen. He was a graduate of Pulaski High School in Milwaukee. Married on July 28, 1962, in Milwaukee, he shared 40 years of marriage with his beloved wife, Bonnie Phillips, who preceded him in death on December 27, 2002. Marv was a recruiter for the Aquinas College women's basketball program. He was formerly the head coach at Oakland Community College for 12 seasons before retiring with over 200 career wins. Coach Allen also garnered three MCCAA Eastern Conference Coach of the Year awards and led his team to a state championship in 2002-03, and an MCCAA Eastern Conference championship in 2003. Marvin Allen is a member of the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan's (BCAM) Century 100 Club member, and was BCAM's Junior College women's basketball coach of the year in 2003. Before coaching at Oakland Community College, he held coaching positions at Brighton, Walled Lake Western, and Durand High School. In the years leading up to his basketball coaching career, he worked as a regional sales manager for Superior Electric and Deltrol Controls. Marvin was a devout Catholic and a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Fenton. Surviving are: four children, Wendi (Darrell) Sparks of Howell, Todd (Ronda) Allen of Brighton, Chad Allen of Howell, and Heather Allen of Byron; daughter-in-law, Stacy Allen; seven grandchildren, Lindsey (Dennis) Reedy, Scott (Christine) Johnson, Drake Sparks (Emily Fuerst), Garrett Allen, Katelynn Allen, Randi (Tyler) Zauel and Chase Allen; 10 great-grandchildren, Alexxa, Garrett Jr, Bentley, Nash, Fallon, Banks, Salem, Taylor, Holden and Hudson; sister, Catherine (Mark) Piotrowicz of New Berlin, WI; sisters-in-law, Kay Phillips; and Mary Allen; nieces and nephews, Terri (Dennis) Meyer, Bud (Penny) Allen, Bridget (Dan) Laehn, Alan Piotrowicz, Bonnie Jo (John) Dalgren, Candi Caya (Guy Harding), Lynda (Thomas) Curler, and Christopher Weimer. He was preceded in death by: his parents, Eugene and Vernetta Allen; wife, Bonnie Allen; and brother, Bernhard Allen. Arrangements by Sharp Funeral Homes, Fenton Chapel, 1000 W. Silver Lake Rd., Fenton, MI 48430. Tributes may be shared at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com