Carroll Eugene Simpson

Carroll Eugene Simpson, Gene, was born in Visalia, California, on November 9, 1940 to Carroll Clifton Simpson and Helen Marie Klineline Simpson. He passed away in Visalia suddenly after a brief illness on August 9, 2024. Gene lived a wonderful and full life as a loving husband for 64 years to his wife, Judy. He was the most amazing father to Sheila Simpson (Bright) and Wendy Simpson (Little). To these three women, and later to his four grandchildren he adored so much, he was perfect. He epitomized what a loving husband, father, and grandfather should be: always kind, helpful, excited, supportive, and dedicated to helping and educating his family above all else. From him they learned a gamut of interests and skills: guitar building, ham radio operating, sailing, rebuilding classic MG's, playing music, singing, woodworking, audio engineering, and voracious reading and learning from everything from archeology, politics, current events, consumer reports, farming, and the list goes on. He was truly a Renaissance Man. Gene graduated from Mt. Whitney High School in 1958. He met the love of his life, Judy, while there and they married in 1960, two weeks after she graduated as well. Gene spent the first part of his career in the grocery business before deciding in 1978 that he wanted to build a great guitar that would combine a Gibson neck and a Martin body, to fit his hands more perfectly. Being the brilliant man he was, he went to the local library, found all the resources he could on guitar building, and set to work. Before long, Allanoke Guitars was born, named after the small ranch he and the family had moved to in 1975. For the next 48 years, he took absolute great delight in building and repairing stringed instruments of all kinds, eventually becoming the Martin, Fender, Ovation, and Gibson warranty repair person for the Central Valley. There was nothing he couldn't do or fix and nothing was more fun for him than meeting with his friends and clients as they came to the shop each day, often for just advice and a listening ear. When Sheila and Wendy were both 14, he bought them each a classic MG sports car and insisted they learn every inch of the car and learn to rebuild it with him before handing over the keys on their 16th birthdays. He made sure they learned to drive a tractor before a car, knew how to change a tire and a spark plug, and raised them to believe there was nothing they couldn't do. They still believe that to this day. He will be missed beyond words, but his legacy lives on powerfully in all that he invested in each of those he loved. Of the many hats he wore and hobbies he loved, his greatest titles were husband, daddy, and granddad. They take great comfort in knowing he is at peace with Christ and look forward to the day they will see him again. He is survived by his wife Judith (Johnston), daughter Sheila and son-in-law Greg, daughter Wendy, and four amazing grandchildren, Connor and Alec Bright, and Sydney and Robson Little, sister-in-law Renee White Simpson (Fields), and nieces, Tiffanie, Kendra, and Kristen Simpson and families. He was preceded in death by his parents, Cliff and Helen, and brother Freddy (Simpson). Rest easy, Dad. We miss you and love you so much. Memorial services will be held 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Saturday, August 24th, 2024 at First Presbyterian Church of Visalia, 215 N. Locust St., Visalia. Services have been entrusted to Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel. Memorial Tributes and condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.

Carroll Eugene Simpson

November 9, 1940 - August 9, 2024