Elvin "Gene" Eugene Parnell

Gene was born on March 6, 1933 in Florence, South Carolina to Elma Young and Elvin Eugene Parnell. He grew up in Timmonsville, South Carolina and was educated in Florence County schools. Gene served in the US Army 3rd Infantry Regiment at Fort Myers, Virginia; where he was chosen as a member of the President's Honor Guard with duties including military funerals at Arlington National Cemetery, government ceremonial functions, guard duty for high ranking officials and dignitaries, as well as marching in the Inaugural parade of President Dwight Eisenhower.

Gene continued his education at Furman University where he met and married the love of his life, Carolyn Hindman Parnell in 1957.

Upon finishing college, he was employed by Texize Chemical Company in Tampa, Florida until taking a sales position at Jordan Business Forms. He then moved to Charlotte in 1960 where he became their sales manager. In November of 1966, Gene formed his own company, Custom Forms, Inc. where he served as owner and president until he retired in December 2005.

Gene's sons, Michael Eugene Parnell and Joel Scott Parnell were his pride and joy. As his sons were growing up, he served as a football coach of Pop Warner team at Charlotte Youth Athletic Club where he also served as president of the CYAC. Both sons were strongly supported in all their athletic endeavors, including football, baseball, ice hockey and motorcross racing.

A lifetime interest in harness horse racing led to being both an owner and trainer, racing in circuits from New York to Florida. Many family trips to Washington D.C. for races were highlights of his love of travel, as was a 3 month trip to Alaska with his wife in a motor home.

Treasured times were spent at Lake Tillery cottage fishing with his wife and sons, as well as Canada Santee Cooper, Outer Banks fishing trips and trout fishing in the North Carolina mountains with James, Aiden and Richard.

Gene was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Loretta Weatherford of Columbia, South Carolina.

He is lovingly survived by his wife of 62 years, Carolyn H. Parnell and their 2 sons, Mike Parnell of Lakeland, Florida and Scott Parnell of Fort Mill, South Carolina; his sister, Nancy (Raleigh) Dutton of Florence, South Carolina, his brother in law, Robert Eugene Hindman of Greenville, South Carolina, brother in law, David Weatherford of Columbia, South Carolina and numerous nieces and nephews.