April 13, 1940 - February 19, 2021
C. Gene Hand III, of Eugene, Oregon, passed away at age 80 on February 19, at his home surrounded by family.
Gene was born on April 13, 1940, in Walla Walla, Washington, to Claude Eugene Hand II and Erildean Hand. He was raised and educated in Walla Walla and La Grande, Oregon, graduating from Eastern Oregon University in 1962 where he won racing awards on the competitive ski team and served as a ski instructor.
After spending six months traveling in Europe, he later married Patsy Hutchinson in La Grande.
Gene served as a sergeant/specialist 5 in the U.S. National Guard and active army reserves for several years and shared fond yet scary memories of training at Fort Ord in California and standing guard all night during the Cuban Missile Crisis.