Erbin “Gene” Triplett, III, 77, of Edmond, Oklahoma, passed away on June 6, 2026, in Oklahoma City. He was born in 1949 in La Jolla, California, to Erbin and Marjorie Triplett and was raised in Oklahoma City.

He met the love of his life, Carol, at age 14, and the two were married on July 19, 1968. They shared 58 devoted years together.

Gene began his college education in 1969 at Central State University in Edmond, now the University of Central Oklahoma, but his studies were interrupted by the Vietnam War. He served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1971 and was stationed in Phu Bai, Vietnam. After returning home, he graduated from Central State University in 1975 with a B.A. in Journalism.

He began his professional journey in 1976 with The Oklahoma Journal as a newspaper writer, journalist, columnist, and movie and music critic. There, he covered hard news while also serving as the paper’s rock critic. He then spent four years at The Daily Oklahoman as entertainment editor, covering popular music, movies, and fine arts.

From 1985 to 1989, he served as assistant city editor and was then named city editor, a role he held from 1989 to 1999. He became the newspaper’s longest-serving city editor. Gene was most known for his work as senior feature editor and columnist for The Oklahoman’s entertainment section from 1999 until his retirement in 2013.

With hundreds of articles and reviews to his name, Gene became only the second journalist inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2011 for creating widespread awareness of Oklahoma’s musical tradition through his extensive writing. At the ceremony, he appeared on stage with Kristen Chenoweth and sang “Oklahoma.”

In 2017, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame. After retiring, he published two Oklahoma-based novels, Wheel Man and Mr. Gone.

Gene led the Oklahoma news team that covered the Oklahoma City bombing and the May 3, 1999, tornado that devastated Moore, Oklahoma. He was a founding member of the Oklahoma Film Critics Circle. Over his career, he interviewed dozens of celebrities, including Robert Redford, Paul Newman, Tom Cruise, Robert Duvall, Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney, Tom Hanks, Cary Grant, Steven Spielberg, Denzel Washington, Glenn Close, and his favorite actor, Jack Nicholson.

Gene loved old and new movies, especially westerns and film noir, music and books, muscle cars, and his dog, Flaps. He was a collector of vinyl records, CDs, and replica cars. When someone he cared for gave him a gift or memento, he kept it forever. He never threw away a book he had read, and he never found a volume knob that was loud enough.

He called his intimate circle of lifelong friends and family the “usual suspects” and never missed an opportunity to round them up for a birthday or holiday party with them.

He served as president of the Associated Press Oklahoma News Executives Board from 1995 to 1996. He was a board member of the Oklahoma City Crime Stoppers Association for more than 15 years. He was a member of the Oklahoma Heart Association’s Communication Committee.

He was preceded in death by his father, Erbin Triplett, and his mother, Marjorie Heath, and her husband, Benton.

Gene is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Carol; his beloved son, Aaron; grandchildren Hailey, Zachary, Devon, and Jaxson; great-grandchildren Izziah and Lilliana; cherished sister Deborah Senior and her husband, Steve; nephews Travis and Michael Senior; and many adoring family members and friends. He will be deeply missed.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 2:00 PM in the Heritage Room, Nigh University Center, University of Central Oklahoma, in Edmond.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in his honor to the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame.