Gene House

Gene House, a community leader for many years in the Coachella Valley, died at his ranch in the Antelope Valley. His wife, Cathy, was by his side. Gene was a native of Los Angeles, earning his B.A. in Psychology from Cal State University, Los Angeles. He also completed graduate coursework in social program evaluation at USC. In 1970 Gene moved with his family to Palm Springs and became an advocate for maintaining the desert's beauty and improving the quality of life for the people of the Coachella Valley. Gene House began his professional life by serving ten years in city and county government in the fields of social services and community relations. Gene served eight years as the Community Relations Director of the City of Palm Springs. In 1981 he founded his private practice in Palm Springs and devoted it to assisting non-profit organizations. The primary services of his practice included strategic planning, marketing and fund development. His clients included prestigious Coachella Valley organizations such as: Annenberg Center at Eisenhower Medical Center; Barbara Sinatra Children's Center; Valley Players Guild and the Stroke Activity Center. He also served as the CEO of state and local organizations including the Family Service Council of California, John F. Kennedy Memorial Foundation, Family Services of the Desert, College of the Desert Foundation, and Friends of the Desert Mountains. During his tenure with the College of the Desert Foundation, he was selected as California's most outstanding community college foundation executive and presented an Eagle Award. In making the award, Dr. Donald Rickner, chairman of the Awards Committee, said, "The Eagle Award is given once each year to that community college foundation executive whose accomplishments have set a new standard for the rest of the state." Gene was a loving father and husband; a hard working man with an admirable work ethic; a dependable and loyal friend. His family and friends mourn him. Gene is survived by his wife, Cathy, of Antelope Valley; his daughter Lorianne (Tom) of Black Diamond, Washington; his son, Gene ( Jacqueline) of Lacey, Washington; stepson Gregory Whicker (Valarie) Antelope Valley; stepson Darren Whicker (Karen) Apple Valley; and a younger brother, Philo, "Buddy" who resides in Plano, Texas. Gene and Cathy had the joy of sharing 12 grandchildren together. Memorial services are scheduled for 11 a.m., November 13th at the Southwest Community Church in Indian Wells. Donations may be made to Friends of the Desert Mountains or the College of the Desert Foundation. Both organizations were particularly important to Gene. To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: mydesert.com/obituaries