Allen Hayes Alexander, Jr. died peacefully on May 13, 2026, in Accent Hospice at Wilmington Hospital after living with Alzheimer’s disease for several years. He was 82.
Allen was born on November 28, 1943, at Delaware Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware, to Eleanor and Allen H. Alexander, Sr. Because his father was serving overseas in the army, he didn’t meet him until he was nearly four years old, After his father returned from the war, the family moved frequently and Allen attended 10 different schools, but graduated from John Dickinson High School in 1962.
Allen joined the United States Army at the end of 1963. His first assignment was the Honor Guard Drill Team, a precision drill platoon known for its breathtaking routines with bayonet-tipped rifles. His next assignment was Korea, where he enjoyed traveling around using local transportation and getting to know the Korean people. His final assignment was in Washington, D.C., where he received top-secret clearance and was responsible for laying out all official parade fields and funeral formations for ceremonies at the White House.
In December 1966, he married Maggie Woodbury, and they began a loving partnership that lasted nearly sixty years. Following his discharge from the army, he enrolled at Temple University, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in sociology. During this time, he directed summer day camps at West Presbyterian Church and took a group of children to the first Poor People’s March.
After graduation, he served as Head of Planning for the Wilmington Model Cities Program in Wilmington. When the program ended, he worked for several consulting firms, conducting research and writing grant applications for non-profits. In 1975, he went back to Temple to work on his doctorate, serving as an adjunct instructor and conducting research with Dr. John Hostetler in the Amish community in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He interviewed Amish men about their farming practices and income, and occasionally stayed in their homes. Although his doctoral work ended with ABD (all but dissertation), his love of learning continued. He continued doing consulting and taught math and statistics at Goldey Beacom and Delaware Technical and Community College. In 1987, he was hired as Chair of the Computer Science Department at Delaware Technical and Community College where he served for 25 years. He updated the institution’s equipment, redesigned the curriculum, and established an articulation agreement with the University of Delaware. In 1997 he earned his Doctorate of Education from the University of Delaware.
Allen loved computers and purchased a home computer before most people knew what they were. He enjoyed keeping up with the latest innovations in the computer field.
On a personal level, Allen had a sense of humor and loved making puns. He was an involved father and a loving and caring husband. He loved swimming with his children and their friends at his parents’ pool and taking the family camping and hiking in the woods. He loved being in nature, whether he was camping, hiking, hunting, canoeing, or taking nature photos. He and his wife, Maggie, spent many summers camping in Lancaster County before purchasing a house in Sweet Valley, Pennsylvania, where they conserved 25 acres of woods.
Allen enjoyed both collecting and making art. He enjoyed drawing and was a talented artist making many things for Maggie’s classroom. He loved doing nature photography and was thrilled when one of his photos was selected for a National Wildlife Christmas card. Each year, he created a Christmas card featuring one of his own photos paired with a carefully chosen poem.
He enjoyed an extremely wide range of music, including World Music, of which Irish music was his favorite. In retirement, he spent time with his grandchildren, taking them to museums and on nature walks. He both taught and took classes at OLLI, read, worked on his genealogy, and started a breakfast group, where men meet every Friday just to talk and enjoy each other’s company.
Allen was preceded in death by his parents, Eleanor and Allen Alexander, Sr., and his brother Arthur Alexander. He is survived by his devoted wife, Maggie; his children, Geoffrey Alexander and Malinda Alexander-Rosario (Adrian); his grandchildren, Django and Maricela Rosario; his brothers, Mark Alexander (Joan) and David Alexander; his in-laws, Susan Woodbury and David Woodbury (Ginger) as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and his dog, Ludo.
The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff at Arden Courts Memory Care and Accent Hospice for the loving care they provided to Allen during his final months.
Allen was a long-time supporter of many environmental and social justice groups. In lieu of flowers, a donation in Allen’s memory may be made to the Ministry of Caring, 115 East 14th St., Wilmington, DE 19801, or Delaware Nature Society, 3511 Barley Mill Road, Hockessin, DE 19707.
Family and friends are invited to a celebration of Allen’s life on Sunday, June 7th at Hanover Presbyterian Church, 18th and Jefferson Streets, Wilmington, Delaware 19802. Visitation will be held from 3:00-4:00 p.m., with the service beginning at 4 p.m.
For online condolences please visit: mccreryandharra.com
