Richard “Dick” Stephen Allain Sr., founder of Allain’s Jewelry and Trophy Store, died on Wednesday, Jan. 4, but he lived a life filled with much more than awards or diamond accents.

A native of Patterson and a resident of both Jeanerette and New Iberia, Allain was a graduate of New Iberia Senior High School and attended Tulane before enrolling in the U.S. Navy.

Allain’s Naval service in WWII included an assignment to the Merchant Marines. He was a Gunner’s Mate, First Class in active duty in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters of war, and survived the sinking of a vessel.

Allain served his country through the end of the war and was honorably discharged.

Emma Allain Hanks, 61, of New Iberia, told the story of her father’s enlistment.

“He was young. He went in at, I think it was 17. He talked about how he was standing in line for the Marines and they said they weren’t taking anymore, so he went to the Navy,” Hanks explained. “That was when you signed up. There was no lollygagging back then.”

“He was a patriot,” said his son Paul Allain, 60, of New Iberia. “He was a  military person.”

Allain married Anna Louise Schwing and together they had 10 children, seven of which are still living. They had five boys and five girls and were married for 69 years. She died three years ago.

“He had quite a family,” said his son, Jimmy Allain, 63, of New Iberia.

Allain and his wife founded Allain’s Jewelry and Trophy Store in 1960.

“They worked at the store together for years. They’d work a lot at home when we were little,” Hanks said. “We used to watch him do the engraving. Work, work, work, work, work, work, work!”

Hanks said her father almost never took a day off, and the family finally convinced him to take Mondays off.

“He would still come check on us and make sure we were there,” Hanks recalled. “We’re carrying on the legacy.”

Allain Sr. also  volunteered his time in several different capacities. He served as president of the Mt. Carmel Boosters Club and was a troop leader for the Boy Scouts of America. He also was a member of the New Iberia Rotary Club, the Knights of Columbus, Third Degree, and  was on the Board of Directors for the Arc of Iberia.

“He was always involved,” Paul Allain said.

“He enjoyed being part of an organization, part of a group,” Jimmy Allain said. “He was what I would consider a people person. He liked to be with people.”

“He did a lot for the Arc,” Hanks said. “It was a cause very close to his heart, very dear.”

“He was a volunteer with the Arc for over 30 years. He was also active with the Arc on the state and national levels,” said Kenny Patton of New Iberia, director of the Arc of Acadiana. “He had a lot of compassion for people. Just a real good guy, a good friend.”

Allain Sr.’s children also spoke of their father’s generosity towards others.

“If people needed help, he would help them.  It didn’t have to just be family,” Hanks said. “No matter who they were or what they needed, he helped them.”

“We definitely learned the true value of a life. How to treat people and how to take care of people,” Jimmy Allain said. “He did that very well. He had a good attitude. He was good to be around.”

“A man of his word and always smiling,” Hanks said. “He was a good guy. He was a good dad.”