P. Allen Searle – Monongahela

P. Allen Searle, brother, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. He was born Jan. 16, 1944, in Tiffin, Ohio, to Preston Rolandes Searle and Marguerite Ellen Glick Searle. He was raised with older sister, Barbara, and younger brother, John, in Allentown, Pa. It was here he earned the award of Life Scout with the Boy Scouts of America. He graduated from Parkland High School and received a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Mansfield University. His love of music was a theme throughout his life, and sharing that love brought him great joy. The joy of sharing music (and desire to watch a better football team) took Allen to California University. He earned a Masters in Psychology, researching the use of music therapy with autistic children. Allen raised his children, Tandi and Shawn, while teaching music in Bentleyville. To his children, and later grandchildren, he was “Papa” or “Pa.” Summers were spent sailing on Lake Bonaparte in New York where his parents had a “camp,” and he built his own sailboat. Later they moved to Monongahela, Pa., where Allen began work as a subcontractor, to pursue his other passion of woodworking. He opened Heritage Woodworking on Main Street in Monongahela, selling handmade furniture and homewares. The legacy he leaves behind is seen in his children’s love of music, love of the water, and strong work ethic as they also build their own businesses. Once Tandi went to college at California University and Shawn pursued music in the Marine Corp, Allen pursued other hobbies. He played trombone with the Edgewood Symphony and started swing dancing. He was a member of the Steel City Boogie Club and loved his second family at the Motown Monday dances. He was known for bringing homemade food, birthday cakes and videotaping the dances and he rarely missed a dance. He could fix anything and was always available to fix or help his friends and family. He is survived by his children, Tandi Stivason and Shawn Searle, their spouses, Bob Stivason and Julie Searle, and his grandchildren, Christopher, Matthew and Zachary Searle, and siblings, Barbara Nonnemacher and John Searle. And soon, too soon, we part with pain to sail o’er silent seas again. The journey never ends. We love you Pa. All services through SPENCER D. GEIBEL FUNERAL HOME & SERVICES, 140 New Castle Road, Butler, PA 16001, www.spencerdgeibel.com. A memorial service will be announced.