Loren Long
September 18, 2008
Loren E. Long, 91, passed away on Thursday, September 18, 2008. Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon St.
Loren was born July 30, 1917 in Drexel, MO to Lannes and Nettie Long. He served in WWII flying P51 Mustangs as a fighter pilot. After the war, he worked for the Federal Aviation Administration in Des Moines as an air traffic controller. He retired in 1972 and he and his wife, Florence, moved to Melbourne, FL, where they lived until moving back to Des Moines in January 2008.
Loren enjoyed square dancing, golf, bowling, bridge and volunteering for his church. In 1972, he and his wife co-chaired the national Square Dance Convention held in Des Moines and attended by over 16,000 people from all over the United States and several foreign countries.
Loren is survived by his wife, Florence, of Des Moines; two daughters, Alice (Charles) Punelli and Peggy (Larry) Rogers , both of Des Moines; sister, Eleanor Bell of Sedan, KS; eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Loren R. and brother, Rosco D. Long.
Memorial contributions may be made too the Bright Kavanagh House.
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Bob & Dorothy Brunshidle
09/28/2008
Dear Florence,
We were saddened to learn of your loss.
Loren was always a kind, gentle man who will be missed and remembered.
Sincerely,
Bob & Dorothy Brunshidle
George & Jean Smith
09/25/2008
Florence,
Please know you are in our prayers. Everyone in the Melbourne square dancing group misses you very much.
George & Jean Smith
50 Yawl Dr.
Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
Trudy M Brian
09/23/2008
Alice and Family,
Please accept my heartfelt sympathy at the loss of your father,husband,and grandfather. I know you will seek comfort in that he is now with God and will always live on in your hearts and memories. I always view the loss of someone I love as a chance to celebrate their life and what a life Loren had to celebrate!! Trudy
Marg and Doug Harris
09/23/2008
Hi Florence,
We were so sorry to hear of Loren's passing. He was such a nice, friendly
person and so much fun to dance with. We both remember his helping hand always there to guide. Take care of yourself and know that our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Marg and Doug Harris (Square Dance Caller and Cuer, Port St. Lucie, FL)
Jim and Ruth Elmore
09/21/2008
Dear Florence, We just heard from Jerry Reed about Loren. We were so sorry to receive the news and send our deepest sympathy. Both you and he were always kind and helpful when we were square dancing. We so enjoyed being in a square with you. We moved in January to a Continuing Care Facility 25 minutes from Daytona Beach so have not been square dancing in the Melbourne area this year. We did not know that you had moved. It is so good that you are near your family at this time. You are in our prayers and our sympathy goes with this message.
Jim and Ruth Elmore
Connie & Hanna Mulherin
09/21/2008
Dear Florence, We're so sorry to learn of Loren's passing. I wish I
had known him when he was flying the P-51's, because I was always
crazy about that plane.
The memories of all the square dances we shared with you folks, and
Skip, will always remain with us. They were wonderful days, and we're happy that you both have been a part of our lives.
Please accept our condolences, and our thanks.
Connie & Hanna Mulherin
Barb Patten
09/22/2008
Hi Flos,
So sorry to hear of Loren's passing. I have many happy memories of square dancing with you and Loren. Also of working with Loren and other square dancing friends for the rental car companies at the Melbourne airport.
Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you, along with those of numerous others who had the pleasure of dancing with you and Loren over the years.
Karlene Adkins
09/19/2008
Dear Florence & family,
My prayers are with you all at this time. Loren was such a special man! I always looked forward to the days he would come to the church office to print the Sunday bulletins and The Messenger. We always knew we could count on him. I will always have precious memories of the stories he shared with us about all of you. Everytime you had a special family happening (high school graduation, college graduation, weddings, babies being born, etc.) he would share with us in the office. He was so very proud of ALL of you. We will miss him so much but all of us will have precious memories to hold on to.
Blessings,
Karlene Adkins
Pastor John Denmark
09/19/2008
There are tears in my eyes as I write this. We have missed Loren and Florence since they left Melbourne. This dear man was a willing servant to his Lord and to his church. The tears are in grief but also in joy that he is now ultimately healed and in the arms of God. Well done thou good and faithful servant.
Sharon Hastings (Long)
09/19/2008
I will always have multiple memories that bring spontaneous smiles of Uncle Loren and all of the times I had with my cousins. His quiet soul was so much a Long characteristic, just like his brother and my dad, Rocky. I can't imagine the big long hug they had for one another over the last few days in heaven. His legacy is truly in the way he lived and how he was kind, patient, loving. . .my prayers are with you Flossie and family.
Dale&Carolyn McClary
09/19/2008
We are sorry to hear of loren passing away. He is in a beter place in god"s loving hands. We have missed and will miss his smilin face on the square dance floor. May god bless the family in these days of sorrow and in the coming days.. God Bless.
Dale & Carolyn McClary
Kittie Martz
09/19/2008
Dear Aunt Florence & Cousins,
My thoughts are with you and sending my love.
Uncle Loren will be missed by many.
Cousin Kittie