Helen Jean Molster Allingham

After a brief illness, Helen Jean (Liz) Molster Allingham, 91, passed away peacefully on December 20, 2025, with family members at her side.

Born on October 4, 1934, to John (Jack) Speed and Elizabeth Hudson Molster, she was a beloved spouse, daughter, sister, niece, cousin, aunt, and friend to many. She spent her early years in Washington D.C., with her older sisters Betty Lee Decker Miller Taylor and Sally Ann Molster Holt Birge. Helen, her two sisters, and her Molster cousins grew up like siblings and spent Sundays at the Lawrence Street home of their paternal grandparents, Charles Ellsworth and Helen Findlay Molster, enjoying Sunday supper, lively conversations, piano recitals and singing.

When Helen’s parents divorced, her mother took Helen and Sally to live in Florida. They later returned to Washington, D.C., to live with their aunts Jean and Elizabeth Molster. In high school, Helen attended the National Cathedral School in Washington, D.C., while her sister Sally attended the Greenbriar School for Girls in West Virginia. Helen graduated from high school in Japan, where her father was stationed as an auditor for the GAO.

Helen’s first job was as a switchboard operator, and later a manager, at C&P Telephone in Washington, D.C. She then spent most of her working career as the Executive Secretary to the Executive Vice President of Marketing of Hughes Aircraft Company, founded by Howard Hughes the year Helen was born. In a time when it was virtually unheard of, Helen mentored many young career women. As a strong, witty, outgoing, and fun single woman, she also was a well-liked fixture on the Washington social circuit.

On January 11, 1985, in Madison, Virginia, Helen married the love of her life, Captain James Robert Allingham. They made their home in West Virginia, Florida, and Virginia before they bought an RV and spent months traveling across the U.S, based out of Kerrville, Texas and eventually settling in Rougemont, North Carolina to be close to Jim’s children, Dr. Robert (Anna Stout) Rand Allingham, and Joel (Lou Ellen) Richard Allingham. When her beloved Jimmy passed away on May 30, 2017, Helen moved to Fairfax, Virginia, to be close to her sister, Sally.

Helen was predeceased by her husband, Jim; her parents Jack and Elizabeth Molster; her sisters Betty Lee and Sally; her Molster cousins Seabury, Anna Katharine, Charles, and Clark; her husband’s son Rand; and her precious Yorkies.

Helen was survived by her nephews Kyle (Jan) and Dwayne (Brenda) Holt and her niece Kelly (Kris) Miller Hansen; her cousins William (Bunk) and John Molster; Joel (Lou Ellen) Allingham, and Rand’s wife Anna Stout; great nephews, Michael (Elizabeth) Holt and Harrison (Jaque) Holt, great nieces Shelby (Gabriel) Escaba, Devon (Mac) Peters, and Madison Holt; great-great niece Ophelia Holt and great-great nephews Asher Holt and Atlas Gil Holt; her many Molster nieces and nephews; the Hughes Girls, and many other life-long and loyal friends.

Helen’s funeral will be held at her childhood place of worship, St. David’s Episcopal Church, 5150 Macomb St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20016 at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. She will be buried with her beloved husband, Captain James Allingham, at Arlington National Cemetery at 2 p.m. that afternoon. Guests should arrive at Arlington National Cemetery by 1 p.m. A reception will follow.

You are encouraged to wear Helen’s favorite colors and bring a copy of your favorite picture of you with Helen. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations in Helen’s name to the Humane Society, your local animal rescue, or the charity of your choice.