Gene passed away on November 30, 2020. He was born 12/18/1945 in Great Bend Kansas to Stanton & Naomi Whitten. Preceded in death by father in 1958, mother in 1986, step father Marcus Garcia in 1992, sister Lynda in 2003, son Eric in 2003 & wife Lani in 2018.
Survived by children: Darryl, Dina, Neil, Michelle, Craig & Steven.
Survived by niece Naomi Bisceglia & nephew Stanton Bisceglia.
Survived by Great Friend of the family Laurie Newman (thank you for everything!).
Gene worked for 2 Arco stations in his youth and for CDF (CalFire) from 1964 to 2000. He served as Battalion Chief at his CDF posts in both Alderpoint & Fortuna.
He was a resident of Humboldt County since he moved with his family to Alderpoint in 1978 & then later to Hydesville, where he lived for the rest of his days.
He was a member of the Critical Incident Stress Debriefing team and worked for several years to help establish a county wide fire radio net. He also was intensely interested in seeing the development of better county-wide maps for the emergency services in rural areas, which he felt was still not a reality to this day.
Graduate of Fort Bragg HS : 1964.
Attended Santa Rosa JC & graduated Humboldt State University with a degree in Business Administration in 1970.
Gene enjoyed life & took great pleasure interacting with his vast network of family, friends & acquaintances. He loved games & puzzles and was a master card player in his time. He was a member of & supported many groups; including Toastmasters, AA, Relay for Life & various grief groups. Gene would always take the time to listen to people’s stories & was well known for helping people he felt needed or deserved it. Most of all, he loved to laugh & tell jokes and stories to make those around him laugh. He had so many stories & we ran out of time before we could hear them all… He believed that HOPE was the greatest gift you can give or receive.
Instead of flower arrangements, Gene would’ve preferred that everyone make a donation to the American Cancer Society or the Food for People organization.
Two roads diverged in the woods
And though they appeared to be the same
I took the one less traveled
And that has made all the difference