R. Gene House
June 3, 1944 - January 19, 2018
R. Gene House (affectionately known as Geno to many) was born in Carmel, California, and was raised with his brother Dayton by his widowed mother Veo, in Pacific Grove. After college he made Marin County his home where he and his wife Rhonwyn shared their lives in their Kentfield home of almost 50 years and raised their two daughters, Heather and Wendy.
Gene was a mid-sixties graduate of San Jose State’s fledgling Industrial Design department. Upon graduation he joined United Airlines’ aircraft interior design group. After receiving his MBA, he advanced through a variety of leadership responsibilities during his 40 year career with the airline. He and his family shared a passion for worldwide travel which shaped so much of their life experiences together. This passion never faded and they treasured together the many close friendships made around the world.
In the latter part of his career, Gene led an organization responsible for marketing the airline’s vast technical and non-technical support services to other airlines globally. His passion for travel, interest in working within other cultures, and meeting new people of all types successfully came together for years of fascinating and immensely satisfying work. That his wife Rhonwyn was able to join him on so many of these travels made this phase of his life all the more special.
With the Monterey Peninsula as his playground growing up, it’s little wonder golf became a true passion in his life. Travel and golf matched well in his business setting which enabled him to enjoy courses around the world. Gene and his family have also loved spending time at their second home in Palm Springs where new friends have been made over the years, many on the beautiful courses there.
He considered it his great good fortune to have found a love of drawing at a very early age. In early years as an Industrial Design student through his time as an Aircraft Interior Designer his drawing skills were professionally important, fully enjoyed and grew. It never left him and only became more important to him through all phases of his life. Over time his love for drawing took shape in various mediums: pencil, pen and ink, watercolors and oils. There was never a journey he took without his sketching supplies at the ready. “Urban sketching” became a source of great satisfaction and pleasure. In his final year and a half when health conditions made access to traditional supplies more complicated, he was introduced to digital art options and that too became a wonderful way to express his lifelong love of drawing.
Diagnosed 18 months ago with AML, he died peacefully at home with his wife by his side. His family is so very grateful for the outstanding care and compassion their Geno received from Dr. Krista Muirhead, Kaiser San Rafael Oncology Center and staff, and the superlative expertise and attention given by Dr. Vu Nguyen, Kaiser Oakland, and all the wonderful, knowledgeable and attentive staff of 10-South. Throughout this unwanted turn of events, he remained his quintessential self: full of good humor, optimism, interest in others, upbeat, his interest and joy in life and the world around him and always engaged with a positive outlook.
By his request, there was no service. He is survived by his wife Rhonwyn, his two “wonderful grills” Heather Wood and Wendy WoodJohnson (Mike); he was Grampsy to grandson Griffin, granddaughter Chelsea, step-grandson Nathaniel, all of Marin County. Brother Dayton House (Marilyn) of Scottsdale, AZ; brother-inlaw Kenneth Frank (Jayni Allsep) of Tiburon; stepbrother Mark Gustafson (Dianne Travers) of Carmel Valley; many close nieces and nephews who loved their Uncle Geno dearly and were deeply loved in return.
Both Geno and Rhonwyn have been so thankful for the love, understanding, humor, help, support, care and just plain wonderfulness of their lovely close family and fabulous friends. In the end, love is all there is.