John A Long

John A. Long O.D. June 10, 1929 - July 7, 2014 John Arthur Long, O.D., age 85, died at home on July 7, 2014. John was born on June 10, 1929 in Indianapolis, Indiana, to the late Edna and Carroll Long. He grew up in Indianapolis, graduated from Broad Ripple High School in 1947, attended Indiana University in Bloomington and received his Doctor of Optometry degree from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis in 1952. He also served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Edgewood, Maryland where he met his future wife, Gloria Denis, and was then stationed in Korea. After returning from Korea, John and Gloria married in 1955 and began their life together in Greenfield, Indiana where Dr. Long practiced Optometry for 45 years, retiring in 2000. Optometry turned out to be the perfect profession for John enabling him to use his analytical and scientific mind, but also allowing him to talk and work closely with thousands of patients Dr. Longs appointments never ran short. During his career, he was active within his profession as a member of the Indiana Optometric Association and also made two trips to Haiti as part of VOSH Volunteer Optometric Service to Humanity. John was a member of many community and civic organizations, but none meant more to him than his 58-year membership in Rotary. Over his adult life, he was also active with the Greenfield Chamber of Commerce, the Greenfield Country Club, and the Elks Club, and was a faithful member of Bradley United Methodist Church since 1955. John was raised in a musically talented family and he continued that tradition by taking up the clarinet in school and performing in the IU Marching 100 and the IU Symphonic Band. Throughout his life, he was active in a variety of musical groups including the Shelbyville Community Band and the Shelbyville Clarinet ensemble. He was also a co-founder and passionate member of the Brandywine Wind Community Band. John had many other talents and interests he earned his pilot license at age 63 and was avid flyer and aircraft owner. Dr. Long was preceded in death by his sister, Jane Alice Brown and is survived by his wife of 59 years, Gloria, his three children, Robert Long, Kathleen Gifford (Ron) and Stephen Long (Stacy) and five grandchildren. Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 11 at Stillinger Family Funeral Home, Pasco Chapel, 1780 West Main Street, Greenfield. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 12 at Bradley United Methodist Church in Greenfield. Burial will follow at Park Cemetery. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to Rotary International, One Rotary Center, 1560 Sherman Avenue, Evanston, IL. 60201 or the Brandywine Wind, P.O. Box 831, Greenfield, Indiana 46140.