Eugene David Prentice

Eugene David Prentice, the son of Harlan Emory and Alice Yates Prentice, was born March 18, 1941, in Spencer, Iowa. He passed away at his home in Port Ludlow, Washington on June 8, 2025, with his wife, children and grandchildren by his side.

Gene grew up in Iowa and South Dakota, graduating from Huron High School in 1959. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1963, trained as a Medical Assistant and Pharmacy Technician; he was stationed at Clark AFB in the Philippines and honorably discharged in April 1967. He later joined the 185th TAC Squadron of the Air National Guard, Sergeant Bluff, Iowa in January 1968. Soon thereafter North Korea attacked and seized the USS Pueblo which resulted in 11 Air National Guard units, including the 185th, being called to active duty. The pilots and maintainers were sent to Vietnam, and other personnel were sent to various bases. Gene received orders to go to Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico in 1968. He later was stationed at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii from 1970-1974 and was discharged in May of 1974.

Gene and Betty (Lundquist) Prentice were married September 15, 1967, in Sioux City, Iowa. New Mexico. Their first child, David Yates Prentice, was born December 9, 1968, in Clovis, New Mexico. That winter Gene attended night classes at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, New Mexico, determined to complete his degree. He learned that if he was accepted to a bachelor’s program at a college or University he could be approved for TDY leave to go to school full time. Upon graduation he would then be obliged to extend his enlistment to pay back to the Air Force for allowing him to complete his degree. He chose to major in Law Enforcement and Criminology with minors in Military Science and Sociology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Their second child, Michelle Christine Prentice, was born December 29, 1969, in Omaha, Nebraska. Gene completed his degree the following May and then was sent to Hickam AFB in Hawaii.

During their 4 years in Hawaii, Gene began taking flying lessons in Oahu. As the assignment to Hawaii wound down, Gene sought an appointment to Officer Candidate School. To be eligible he would need to be assigned to a stateside base. However, when he learned that his next assignment was expected to be another overseas assignment, after which he would have too much time in service to be eligible for appointment for Officer Candidate School, he chose not to reenlist. He was discharged in May of 1974 at Travis AFB Fairfield CA.

The couple purchased a truck with a camper and proceeded to travel along the west coast, ending up in Tacoma, WA where an uncle and aunt of Betty lived. Over the summer Gene applied for many jobs, and they spent weekends camping and exploring western Washington. Gene also continued with his flying lessons and completed his cross-country requirements by flying from Tacoma to Bellingham and back. Boeing had laid off many people that summer, so jobs were not easy to find; but in August Gene was offered a job as an insurance adjuster with openings in Tacoma or Anchorage. He accepted the Anchorage assignment, and the family put their camper on a ferry and headed for Alaska, arriving on Labor Day weekend. They ended up living in Anchorage for 40 years, before retiring to Port Ludlow, WA in 2014.

During their time in Alaska, their second son, John Harlan Prentice, was born on January 13, 1980. Gene worked various jobs, including the Alaska Railroad, and the US Postal Service where he was a letter carrier for 35 years. In the back of his mind, he envisioned becoming a bush pilot but that never happened. However, he held a commercial pilots license and small engine airplane and instrument rating. He enjoyed fishing for salmon, dip-netting, fly fishing, and camping experiences with his sons through their many Boy Scouting adventures.

Gene was an Honorary Past Master of Glacier Lodge #10 of Free & Accepted Masons, Anchorage, AK; a member of Scottish Rite of Free Masonry, Anchorage; Past officer of Anchorage York Rite Masons; Anchorage Commandery No.2; Past Commander of Red Cross of Constantine; Knights Templar, Anchorage; Alaska Shrine Association and International Clown Association; Past Patron of Key City Chapter #71, Port Townsend, WA and Forget-me-not Chapter #19, Anchorage, AK, Order of the Eastern Star; and Order of the Elks Port Townsend #31. He enjoyed being a Shrine Clown, and with his biker puppet Scooter participated in Shrine Outreach Clinics and parades.

Gene is survived by Betty, his loving wife of 57 years; son David (Wendi); daughter Michelle, son John, grandchildren, Alice, Hannah, David L and Robert Prentice, Arianna and Isabella Tinoosh; cousins Douglas Yates and Susan Buetel; brother-in-law Arthur Nimmer and nieces Teresa Vogel, Renee’ Nimmer, and Sarah Soloninka and their children. He was preceded in death by his parents, Emory and Alice Prentice and sister Marcia Nimmer.

A celebration of life service will be held at Community United Methodist Church, 130 Church Rd, Port Hadlock, WA, on Sunday, July 20, 2025 at 1:00 PM. Internment will take place at Tahoma National Cemetery at 2 PM on Monday, July 21, 2025. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, PO Box 1525, Ranson, WV 25438.

Family and friends are invited to share memories of Gene and sign the online guestbook.