Walter Eugene Estes

World War II Veteran

Resident of Westlake Village and Thousand Oaks, California

Gene Estes was born on August 27th, 1923 in Quincy, Illinois and passed away peacefully on August 28th, 2012 in Moorpark, California following the celebration of his 89th birthday.

Growing up, Gene was passionate about music and began playing the piano, the drums and the clarinet. He focused on the clarinet, loved the Big Band sound and formed and lead his own band, ‘Gene Estes and The Dipsy Doodles’. In his heart, Gene was passionate about music and wanted to pursue a music career but when reality struck a few years later, he successfully pursued engineering.

In June 1940, he graduated from Quincy High School with honors, at the age of 16. As he said himself in his autobiography, “I had received a very good education. I had enjoyed my life in high school. I had met and courted my true love, June. I was in good health and I was ready to conquer the world.”

Gene fell in love with June Elizabeth Weiss while they were in French class and Gene knew right away that he wanted to marry her. They wed on October 16th, 1943.

Gene entered the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in 1940 to pursue a degree in Engineering. He continued to play the clarinet in the First Regimental Band. During his sophomore year, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and Gene was well aware that he would soon be serving his country in World War II. He honorably served his country in the Army for three and a half years before returning to complete his Master’s Degree.

Gene graduated from the University of Illinois with a Master’s of Science degree in Civil Engineering in June of 1947. Gene and June immediately left Illinois to pursue their dreams in San Francisco, California and Gene began his job as a Civil Engineer at the Standard Oil Company of California (SOCAL).

SOCAL gave Gene the opportunity to see the world. He moved the family to Masjid-i-Sulaiman, Iran in 1958 and spent three years in the Middle East and Europe before returning to San Francisco.

He continued in the oil business, joining Irving Oil in New Brunswick and Toronto, Ontario, Canada before announcing to the family in 1968 that their next home would be Honolulu, Hawaii.

In Hawaii, Gene joined Dames & Moore where he worked for over 20 years and became a Managing Partner for this International Consulting Engineering Firm. Gene semi-retired when Dames & Moore was sold in 1989. However, he wanted to continue his involvement in engineering and joined Richard M. Harris at the Port of Long Beach on various projects. During this time he co-authored two books on Project Management for engineers.

He contributed his spare time to Rotary, engaging in Special Projects helping youth and the less fortunate around the world.

He was an active golf member at North Ranch Country Club, the Westlake Village Walkers, the Classics and he just loved to travel with June at every possible occasion.

He was especially proud of his children, who all have advanced University degrees, and his six grandchildren.

Gene was pre-deceased by his loving wife and high school sweetheart June Elizabeth Estes on June 4th, 2007. Gene is survived by son, Steven Alan Estes (Dianne Marshall); daughter, Joan Elizabeth Estes-Lindskog (Martin); and daughter, Sally Ann May (Doug). Gene loved and enjoyed all of his six grandchildren, Spark Estes, Hilary May, Maxwell Estes, Heather May, Greg May and Alexander Lindskog.