Gene Charles Carpenter, age 77, passed away on January 16, 2013 in La Mesa, California, with his family by his side. Gene, an only child, was born on November 2, 1935 in Columbus, Ohio to parents John and Louise Carpenter. Gene attended Central High School where he was actively involved in various clubs and photography. Gene began playing guitar and steel guitar at an early age, forming the band The Woodshed Four in the late 1940s. The group gained local notoriety in the Columbus area preforming at numerous venues and on a weekly radio program. He received both his Bachelor’s degree and his PhD in geology from Ohio State University. Gene married Shirley Camp and the couple had two children, Brent born in 1959 and Christine born in 1961. He worked as a consulting geologist and taught college for many years in Cincinnati, Ohio before relocating to Phoenix, Arizona in 1967, where Gene pursued a career in oil and gas, as well as multiple business ventures in real estate, construction, and even a rock shop. The couple divorced in 1975. In 1968, Gene was hired as a consultant to review the possible relocation of the London Bridge to Lake Havasu. He was also an honorary Kentucky Colonel. Gene remarried to Karen (Kemmish) Cambell on August 15, 1976 and adopted her daughter Michelle Lynn (Carpenter) Rowley. The family relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma where Gene pursued multiple business ventures and ran a successful oil and gas production company for 10 years. The couple was actively involved in the Tulsa community with Gene serving on the Rotary, multiple Chambers of Commerce, The Harvard Club, and The Petroleum Club. Gene and Karen enjoyed driving and collecting antique Jaguars and were active members of the Jaguar Club of Tulsa, forming many wonderful friendships over the years. Gene was also a private pilot, owning several small aircraft. Family and friends enjoyed extensive travels with Gene piloting his favorite plane, a Cessna 421 painted in the Ohio State Buckeye colors, throughout the years. Karen and Gene moved to Honolulu, Hawaii in 1985 where Gene worked as a Pacific Rim Environmental Geologist, traveling to Hong Kong, Guam, and throughout the Hawaiian Islands for various environmental projects. The family returned to the mainland in 1988, living and working both in California and Oklahoma until Karen passed away in 2010. Until his passing, Gene lived near his children in Southern California. He is survived by daughter Christine (Carpenter) Edwards, her husband John Edwards and grandchildren Megan and Sarah Edwards of La Mesa, California, son Brent Carpenter, his wife Jacque Carpenter and grandchildren, Alexandra and Austin of Valencia, California and daughter, Michelle (Carpenter) Rowley, her husband Steve Rowley and grandchildren, Travis and Paige of Madison, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his wife of 34 years, Karen, his father John, mother Louise, and ex-wife Shirley. In later years, Gene continued to play the guitar and steel guitar, inspiring several of his grandchildren to pursue playing the guitar. Gene will be remembered for his dedication and unending support of his wife during her lengthy and complex illness, his witty sense of humor, entrepreneurial spirit, and love for his family and grandchildren. The family will hold a private wake in celebration of his life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Parkinson’s Disease Foundation. This obituary was published in the Tulsa World on 1/23/2013.
