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Obituary for Gene I. Belknap
Gene I. Belknap, 84, of Brookings, passed away in Medford, Ore. on December 15, 2012. Gene was born November 20, 1928 in Dinuba, Calif. to Linnie and Clair (New) Belknap. He grew up in Reedley, Calif. where he was raised by his aunt and uncle due to his father’s death. Gene later moved to Fresno, Calif. where he began driving truck. In 1959, Gene grew fond of his employer’s daughter, Marilyn McCarty. Following their first group date with her parents, the two fell in love and were married in Reno just 3 months later on September 6, 1959. They later moved to Florida but returned to California, settling in the Bay Area. Gene began working in the purified gas industry and, ultimately, founded a business with a couple colleagues: Kinetic. In 1980, he and Marilyn sold their share in the company and Gene began consulting work in the same industry. Gene’s talent brought demand for his services from big companies like Intel, and would take him and Marilyn to Brazil for a year and a half. They returned and Gene semi-retired at 65, but would continue helping on special projects when needed. He and Marilyn purchased an RV and traveled up and down the west coast until settling in Brookings in 1990 as one of the first owners at Whaleshead. Gene loved to fish for salmon on the Chetco and Rogue Rivers. He also enjoyed working with wood. He and Marilyn teamed up to make different wood ornaments that they would sell at the local fairs and markets. Gene also liked to collect and carve Native American and mountain man artifacts. He was a member of the Brookings Elks Lodge #1934. Survivors include his wife, Marilyn Belknap of Brookings, son Rodney Belknap and his wife, Christine of San Ramon, Calif., grandchildren, Brian, Holly and Diana, great grandchild, Morgan. Gene was preceded in death by a son, Rick Belknap and a sister, Barbara Belknap. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 31 W. 6th St., Medford, OR 97501. A celebration of Gene’s life will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, January 12, 2013 at Redwood Memorial Chapel, 1020 Fifield St. in Brookings. Condolences may be expressed online at www.redwoodmemorial.net.
