Larry Dean Long, age 72, of Walkerton, IN, passed peacefully at home on February 26, 2016 after a year long battle with brain cancer.
Larry was born in Fish Lake, IN on June 7, 1943 to Raymond W. and Margaret (Wedel) Long.
On January 14, 1967 in Walkerton (St. Joseph County), IN at the Evangelical United Brethren Church, he married Luanne Hayter who survives. Also surviving are his son, Michael (Michelle) Long of Westfield, IN; five grandchildren, Kirsten Collins of Allendale, MI, Ashley Long of Westfield, IN, Danny Collins of Chicago, IL, Alexis Snyder of Walkerton, IN and Jaden Johnson of Mishawaka, IN; siblings, Harold Long of Attica, IN, James “Pat” (Wilma) Long of Fish Lake, IN, John (Audrey) Long of Fish Lake, IN and Frank (Kathie) Long of Westville, IN.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Danny D. Long, Sr. (2005); sisters, Joan Buckmaster and Kathleen Grage; brothers, Terry and Donald Long; and sisters-in-law, Susan K. Hayter, Margaret “Margie” Long and Phyllis Sue Long. He was also preceded by nephews, Jimmy and Troy Long; nieces, Lesia Long Patterson, Tonya R. Swanson, Paula Bealor, Katina Hayter Van Horn and Loretta Marino; and brothers-in-law, Donald F. Meyer and Paul Grage.
Larry served his country faithfully as a Veteran of the United States Army (2 yrs.) spending time in Vietnam from August 1965 to February 1966 being honorably discharged in mid-1966. He was a professional truck driver for 40 years and received his 1 million safe driving award from USF Holland, the last truck line he drove for while having over 30 years safe driving for other trucking companies he worked for. He was a member of Tracy UMC, a 40 year member of Teamsters and a 50 year member of the VFW and the American Legion, a life membership in the DAV and also was a member of the NRA and AMAC. Larry loved to travel and was able to see all 50 states. He also combined his love of travel and patriotism, honoring the veterans by stopping at many of the Veteran Memorials and Monuments throughout the 50 states, Australia, New Zealand and Europe.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:30 am (CST) on Saturday, March 5, 2016 at Tracy United Methodist Church. Pastors Ann Dill and Kalvin Morrison will officiate. Full military honors will be conducted at the church following the service. A cremation committal will then take place with Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center with burial to take place at Oak Grove Cemetery at a later date.
A time of visitation will be held from 4 - 8 pm (CST) on Friday, March 4, 2016 at Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center in La Porte and from 9:30 am (CST) until the time of service at the church on Saturday.
Larry was born in Fish Lake, IN on June 7, 1943 to Raymond W. and Margaret (Wedel) Long.
On January 14, 1967 in Walkerton (St. Joseph County), IN at the Evangelical United Brethren Church, he married Luanne Hayter who survives. Also surviving are his son, Michael (Michelle) Long of Westfield, IN; five grandchildren, Kirsten Collins of Allendale, MI, Ashley Long of Westfield, IN, Danny Collins of Chicago, IL, Alexis Snyder of Walkerton, IN and Jaden Johnson of Mishawaka, IN; siblings, Harold Long of Attica, IN, James “Pat” (Wilma) Long of Fish Lake, IN, John (Audrey) Long of Fish Lake, IN and Frank (Kathie) Long of Westville, IN.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Danny D. Long, Sr. (2005); sisters, Joan Buckmaster and Kathleen Grage; brothers, Terry and Donald Long; and sisters-in-law, Susan K. Hayter, Margaret “Margie” Long and Phyllis Sue Long. He was also preceded by nephews, Jimmy and Troy Long; nieces, Lesia Long Patterson, Tonya R. Swanson, Paula Bealor, Katina Hayter Van Horn and Loretta Marino; and brothers-in-law, Donald F. Meyer and Paul Grage.
Larry served his country faithfully as a Veteran of the United States Army (2 yrs.) spending time in Vietnam from August 1965 to February 1966 being honorably discharged in mid-1966. He was a professional truck driver for 40 years and received his 1 million safe driving award from USF Holland, the last truck line he drove for while having over 30 years safe driving for other trucking companies he worked for. He was a member of Tracy UMC, a 40 year member of Teamsters and a 50 year member of the VFW and the American Legion, a life membership in the DAV and also was a member of the NRA and AMAC. Larry loved to travel and was able to see all 50 states. He also combined his love of travel and patriotism, honoring the veterans by stopping at many of the Veteran Memorials and Monuments throughout the 50 states, Australia, New Zealand and Europe.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:30 am (CST) on Saturday, March 5, 2016 at Tracy United Methodist Church. Pastors Ann Dill and Kalvin Morrison will officiate. Full military honors will be conducted at the church following the service. A cremation committal will then take place with Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center with burial to take place at Oak Grove Cemetery at a later date.
A time of visitation will be held from 4 - 8 pm (CST) on Friday, March 4, 2016 at Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center in La Porte and from 9:30 am (CST) until the time of service at the church on Saturday.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Wounded Warriors Family Support, 920 S. 107th Avenue #250, Omaha, NE 68114 or Tracy United Methodist Church, 1702 E. US Hwy 6, Hamlet, IN 46532.
Condolences may be shared with the family online at www.cutlerfuneralhome.com.