George E. Long

George E. Long

88, of Englewood, Colorado passed away Saturday, March 10, 2012 at his son's home in Littleton, Colorado. He was born to parents George W. and Edna (Devine) Long on April 17, 1923 in Palisade, Nebraska. He served proudly in the United States Navy duiring WWII as an Electrician's Mate, Third Class. He is preceded in death by his loving wife Eileen E. Long who passed away January 2007. Viewing will be held Sunday, March 18th from 3-7 P.M. at Newcomer West Metro Chapel. Funeral service Monday, March 19th at 10:30 P.M. at Newcomer West Metro Chapel followed by burial at Ft. Logan National Cemetery, 12:15 P.M. Staging area "C" with United States Navy Honors. Reception to follow at the Southwest Bible Chapel located at 5260 W Florida Ave, Lakewood, CO. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Prison Ministries, Inc. PO Box 19044 Denver, Colorado 80219-9044.



George E. Long Jr. was the second child born to George Sr. and Edna Long. Just a few days after his birth however, tragedy struck his family when his mother passed away due to health problems asssociated with is child birth. George and his older brother Cliff were initially raised with the help of their Grandparents until their father remarried, and he and his new bride Myrtle, had a daughter, Cliff and George's baby sister MaryJane.

As a family they lived in the Palisade Nebraska area, where Cliff and george were active in sports as Palisade Panthers. Cliff, a couple years older was very successful and received honors as a football player. George, considerably smaller than Cliff, managed to create success as well in football, making the All-State Six-Man Football Team in the State of Nebraska. Their younger sister always there cheering them on.

Not long after graduation, George was drafted into the Navy, as World War II became a reality. During his time in the service, George became and electrician stationed on a ship named The U.S.S. Quincy. During his time on the ship, he was bale to see much of the world, including the South Pacific all the way to Japan, and eventually sailing to Europe, where he said they became a taxi for the President of the United States on occasion. Although his ship was not strategically involved close-up during D-Day, they were none the less stationed many miles out at sea during the invasion.

Once he was released from the Navy, he and his wife, Eileen Lawless-Long made their way back to the Cornhusker State. Back in the Palisade area, there was a child born to this union, Larry Richard. But tragedy struck again and Larry passed away before his first birthday from complications associated with pneumonia. A second child was born a little later; his name was William Lee. George, Eileen, and little Billy, then moved to Salem Oregon where Cliff had settled down with his family, and George found employment as a high-line electrician.

Durig their time in Salem, George and Eileen had two more boys, James Phillip and Robert David. Every thing was fine for awhile, but then an accident occurred where George was knocked off a High-wire pole he had climbed when a truck backed into the pole. George broke his back and was layed-up for a year. Once recovered, he and Eileen decided to move to the Denver area where he became a union electrician. They bought a house in Englewood and raised their family there, with all three boys graduating from Englewood High School. During those years, George, Eileen and familybecame members of the Southwest Bible Chapel. Once the boys got older, they started attending the Littleton Bible Chapel, and George and Eileen did as well. Both churches have been a blessing to his family over the years.

Throughout his life, George has tried to be a "Disciple for Christ." He always carried bible tracts in his front shirt pocket and would give them out freely to anyone that would take one. He would often place the tracts on windshields of cars in parking lots. His faith was strong! According to his boys, George prayed before every meal, thanking God for the food he had provided and also for allowing his son to die on the cross for our sins. He read his Bible daily, and had read the entire Bible a number of times. There were few times when George's Grandsons (when they were young) complained about the length "of Grandps's Prayers." Tyson mentioned this one time to Grandpa after his prayer, which was not a good idea. At that point, all the family received a lecture about the appropriateness of praying and showing gratitude for God's love. After that, Tyson was quick to tell Grandpa after a prayer "that it was just right grandpa!"

George was an active electrician until the age of 63 when he decided his body was getting past the point where he could be an effective electrician. So he retired. It was at that time when he became involved with the Set-Free Prison ministry centered in the Southwest Bible Chapel. During his two and a half decades working with this organization, he graded thousands of tests and visited thousands of inmates and gave away thousands of Bibles in the jails giving the message that Jesus was the way to eternal life! He has given witness to those in need of some direction, and felt rewarded many times when former inmates would still make contact with him after getting out of prison. Those rewards were "priceless" to George.

When one looks bacl at his life, I think George would feel humble about what he has accomplished; he felt good about his 64-year marriage to his wife Eileen, and the accomplishments of his sons, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. George was not afraid to die; and knew there would be eternal riches beyond comprehension when he went to be with his Lord. He would not look at his death as the end, but rather the beginning of his eternal life. So as we celebrate his life, we know God will be able to say to him, Well done, my good and faithful servant.