Allen Wayne Lyndrup, 79, our great Viking warrior, teacher, and lover of life passed away on February 4, 2024.
Allen was born in Oak Park, IL on January 29, 1945. After finding a passion for being involved in a show at Central High School in Clifton, IL, Allen studied theater at Wartburg College in Waverly, IA. Like his parents (Carolyn and Luther Lyndrup) he became a teacher, beginning his career at McHenry High School outside of Chicago. While completing a Masters of Fine Arts at the University of Georgia, he met the love of his life and his adored wife of fifty-two years Anne (Marley) Lyndrup. Allen had a successful and fulfilling forty-four year career teaching theater at the University of Virginia, James Madison University and the College of Charleston. He loved inspiring and engaging students’ curiosity and supporting them in their passions. He once literally gave the shirt off of his back for a student. Allen served as department chair and associate dean at JMU, and as department chair at CofC. After his retirement, Allen was proud and honored to be named Professor Emeritus by the College of Charleston.
Allen’s greatest personal joys included emerging from his garage wood shop with new creations, regaling guests at the dining room table with stories and theatrics, playing any musical instrument with his grandchildren, chatting with anyone and everyone, getting lost in gardening, and traveling the world with his beloved Anne to satisfy his exploratory appetite of a Danish Viking.
Sets designed, plays written and directed, students impacted and inspired, and family and friends whose lives were made richer by Allen are too many to include. Allen was predeceased by his mother and father, sister Lynette Russell, and brother Mark Lyndrup. He is survived by his wife Anne, his son Col. Jens Lyndrup (Courtney), and daughter Carrie Lyndrup (Jay Karen), as well as grandchildren Maxwell, Jonah, Thomas, and Anna. Allen was a proud uncle to his beloved nieces and nephews.
All obituary information has been taken from the funeral home, newspaper or other online resource.
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