Gerald Allen of Slippery Rock celebrated his 85th birthday with a family gathering.

Allen was born Dec. 4, 1921, in Hallston. He married Verna Mayer on June 19, 1946. She is deceased.

He has three children, Gerald Allen of Prospect, Karen Wimer of Portersville and Linda Butcherine of Hilliards. He also has six grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Allen is retired. He worked as a carpenter with Carpenter's Local 500.

He belongs to West Liberty United Methodist Church, the VFW and the American Legion. Aveteran of the Army Air Corps, he served for three years in World War II as an aerial tail gunner with the 453rd bomb squadron. He participated in 65 combat missions over Europe.