Eugene Robert Parrill
1936 - 2025
Eugene Robert "Gene" Parrill, age 89, passed away peacefully in hospice care at Regents Point, Irvine, California on December 31, 2025.
Gene was born on July 3, 1936 in Clarksburg, West Virginia to Robert "Bob" and Lucille (Jackson) Parrill. When America entered World War II, Bob was too old for the draft but chose to enlist in the Navy anyway. Gene had been diagnosed with asthma and his doctor recommended the family move to Arizona for his health. In August 1944, while Bob was serving in the Pacific, Lucille and 8 year old Gene boarded a train for Tucson, Arizona. They were joined by Bob when he was discharged in 1946.
After Gene's first semester at the University of Arizona, he followed his father into the military and joined the Air Force for the end of the Korean War. He married his high school sweetheart Virginia "Ginnie" Williams and they had their first two children (Elizabeth and Cynthia) in Crescent City, California where Gene was stationed as a radar observer at Klamath Air Force Station. In 1959 Gene left the Air Force to go back to University to study Electrical Engineering. He graduated in 1962 and immediately went to work for IBM as a Systems Engineer. Gene and Ginnie had two more daughters (Kathleen and Claire Nichole).
Gene became restless and wanted to get ahead quicker. He moved from IBM to SDS and later Xerox Data Systems and in 1969, moved to Southern California with a new wife, Virginia "Ginny" (Branton) and her son Dirk Wilson. Gene was always looking to make a living at the thing he loved - cars. When Gene told stories about his life he could always name the year, make and model of the car he was driving: first car in high school - 1948 Dodge convertible, wedding gift from Ginnie Williams' parents - 1952 Pontiac Catalina Hardtop, Gene's first Porsche after joining IBM - 1959 Porsche 356A Coupe (Cream with dark red leather interior) and so the list goes.
In Southern California he and Ginny started a company Marque Products that sold collector quality model cars. He was joined in the business by his parents Bob and Lucille Parrill, and his daughters always enjoyed helping out when they visited in the summers. In 1978 Gene again wanted to do more with the model car business so he teamed with Lloyd Asbury, a master modeller and pattern maker, to start Precision Miniatures, whose kits are still considered to be the best 1:43 white-metal kits manufactured in the USA.
By 1979, Gene was dating again, this time driving a 1967 Lamborghini Miura. His wife, Phyllis (Stanfill) Cool, fondly recalls that when Gene came to pick her up for their first date, her son Scot encouraged the new suitor because of his car. The first date developed into marriage on March 23, 1985 in Laguna Beach, California, with all of Gene's children and many grandchildren in attendance. Gene and Phyllis drove off on their honeymoon in his 1953 Buick Skylark Convertible restored for the occasion.
Gene left the computer industry for good in 1989 and started another model car company with business partner Alan Novak, this time manufacturing finished model cars. Motor City USA was born in 1990 and Gene was finally living his life of toys and cars, happily married to Phyllis and surrounded by lifelong friends including Jon and Roberta Sagud, Philippe and Kathy de Lespinay, and Roger and Elaine Sanders. After he wound up Motor City USA in 2000, Gene continued to feel a glow of pride in having produced excellent model cars for a decade.
Gene and Phyllis spent retirement travelling, eating out, judging the Amelia Concours, and joining friends at car and toy shows around the country. At their home, they enjoyed hosting their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, with whom they made innumerable trips to Disneyland over the years. When Gene's health started to deteriorate in 2018 Gene and Phyllis downsized the family home in Costa Mesa and moved to Regents Point in Irvine, California where Phyllis is still a resident.
Gene is survived by his wife of 40 years Phyllis Cool, his daughters, Elizabeth Knox (James deceased), Cindy Parrill (Belinda), Katie Liddle (Tim), and Nickie Whipple, stepson Scot Cool (Katie); grandchildren, Hannah Knox, Jessica Brewster (Charlie), Michael Liddle (BreeAnn), Meghan Snyder (Micah), Brandon Liddle (Trina), Steven Rigby (Corinne), Robyn Rigby, Bridget Cool, James Cool, Jack Cool; and nine great-grandchildren.
The family thanks the staff of Sunridge and Windcrest for their compassionate care of Gene.
Gene was born on July 3, 1936 in Clarksburg, West Virginia to Robert "Bob" and Lucille (Jackson) Parrill. When America entered World War II, Bob was too old for the draft but chose to enlist in the Navy anyway. Gene had been diagnosed with asthma and his doctor recommended the family move to Arizona for his health. In August 1944, while Bob was serving in the Pacific, Lucille and 8 year old Gene boarded a train for Tucson, Arizona. They were joined by Bob when he was discharged in 1946.
After Gene's first semester at the University of Arizona, he followed his father into the military and joined the Air Force for the end of the Korean War. He married his high school sweetheart Virginia "Ginnie" Williams and they had their first two children (Elizabeth and Cynthia) in Crescent City, California where Gene was stationed as a radar observer at Klamath Air Force Station. In 1959 Gene left the Air Force to go back to University to study Electrical Engineering. He graduated in 1962 and immediately went to work for IBM as a Systems Engineer. Gene and Ginnie had two more daughters (Kathleen and Claire Nichole).
Gene became restless and wanted to get ahead quicker. He moved from IBM to SDS and later Xerox Data Systems and in 1969, moved to Southern California with a new wife, Virginia "Ginny" (Branton) and her son Dirk Wilson. Gene was always looking to make a living at the thing he loved - cars. When Gene told stories about his life he could always name the year, make and model of the car he was driving: first car in high school - 1948 Dodge convertible, wedding gift from Ginnie Williams' parents - 1952 Pontiac Catalina Hardtop, Gene's first Porsche after joining IBM - 1959 Porsche 356A Coupe (Cream with dark red leather interior) and so the list goes.
In Southern California he and Ginny started a company Marque Products that sold collector quality model cars. He was joined in the business by his parents Bob and Lucille Parrill, and his daughters always enjoyed helping out when they visited in the summers. In 1978 Gene again wanted to do more with the model car business so he teamed with Lloyd Asbury, a master modeller and pattern maker, to start Precision Miniatures, whose kits are still considered to be the best 1:43 white-metal kits manufactured in the USA.
By 1979, Gene was dating again, this time driving a 1967 Lamborghini Miura. His wife, Phyllis (Stanfill) Cool, fondly recalls that when Gene came to pick her up for their first date, her son Scot encouraged the new suitor because of his car. The first date developed into marriage on March 23, 1985 in Laguna Beach, California, with all of Gene's children and many grandchildren in attendance. Gene and Phyllis drove off on their honeymoon in his 1953 Buick Skylark Convertible restored for the occasion.
Gene left the computer industry for good in 1989 and started another model car company with business partner Alan Novak, this time manufacturing finished model cars. Motor City USA was born in 1990 and Gene was finally living his life of toys and cars, happily married to Phyllis and surrounded by lifelong friends including Jon and Roberta Sagud, Philippe and Kathy de Lespinay, and Roger and Elaine Sanders. After he wound up Motor City USA in 2000, Gene continued to feel a glow of pride in having produced excellent model cars for a decade.
Gene and Phyllis spent retirement travelling, eating out, judging the Amelia Concours, and joining friends at car and toy shows around the country. At their home, they enjoyed hosting their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, with whom they made innumerable trips to Disneyland over the years. When Gene's health started to deteriorate in 2018 Gene and Phyllis downsized the family home in Costa Mesa and moved to Regents Point in Irvine, California where Phyllis is still a resident.
Gene is survived by his wife of 40 years Phyllis Cool, his daughters, Elizabeth Knox (James deceased), Cindy Parrill (Belinda), Katie Liddle (Tim), and Nickie Whipple, stepson Scot Cool (Katie); grandchildren, Hannah Knox, Jessica Brewster (Charlie), Michael Liddle (BreeAnn), Meghan Snyder (Micah), Brandon Liddle (Trina), Steven Rigby (Corinne), Robyn Rigby, Bridget Cool, James Cool, Jack Cool; and nine great-grandchildren.
The family thanks the staff of Sunridge and Windcrest for their compassionate care of Gene.
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