RACHEL KUECHENMEISTER ALLEN
was born May 15, 1931, in St. Louis,
Mo., and passed December 27,
2023 in Little
Rock. Her parents, Reverend
George and Ruth Kuechenmeister, moved to Hot Springs shortly after to be the Lutheran minister and family at First Lutheran Church.
She met her husband, Dr. E. Stewert Allen at the University of Arkansas, where she was a Chi Omega. They moved to Little Rock for a residency, and established a medical practice that lasted for over 50 years. Rachel, always the hard worker, first used her Business Administration degree working for Stephens, Inc. as Mr. Stephens personal secretary and kept the books for their property management company. This led to her being the Executive Director for the Arkansas State Board of Nurse Examiners.
Rachel then worked for American Airlines. At American Airlines, she helped many locals become travel agents and liaison with the airline for tours. She was the President of the Chi Omega alumni organization and organized the first State Day alumni group that came to Fayetteville. She also was the alumni advisor at the UALR chapter for several years. She was heavily involved in PTA activities while her children were in school, and was chairman of VIPS: Volunteers in Public Schools, at Forest Heights Junior High and also on the VIPS city advisory board. This organization brought together parents from all of the schools, which was important during the turbulence of desegregation in the Little Rock schools. She was on the Little Rock School District Advisory Board to set up policies for health care in the public schools, which established health rooms in the schools so that students could receive services at the schools. She also worked with the Pulaski County Medical Society, Advisory Board for the State Auxiliary, and Arkansas Children’s Hospital Auxiliary.
A lifelong Lutheran, she volunteered at Grace Lutheran Church as a member of the altar guild, education committee, and vacation bible school teacher. At the Arkansas Arts Center, now the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, she was a founding volunteer with Tabriz. She volunteered many hours at the Decorative Arts Museum/The Terry House, and the Fine Arts Club.
She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Dr. E. Stewert Allen; and her son, Edward Stewart Allen III.
She is survived by her brother, George P. Kuechenmeister, and his daughters, nieces Patty Hankins and Judy Kuechenmeister; daughter, Celeste Allen; grandson; Andrew Barker; nieces Kay Allen Bird (Ross), Lori Allen and Tracy Dickerson. There will be a private burial at a later date under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com.
Memorials may be made to Grace Lutheran Church in Little Rock. Special thanks to all of Rachel’s friends, family, UAMS doctors and personal care givers that loved and took care of her during her life.