Obituary of Wallace LeRoy Long

Obituary for Wallace LeRoy "Lee" Long Wallace LeRoy "Lee' Long, 11/15/1936 - 3/30/2015 Devoted husband, father, grandfather and uncle, passed away peacefully, and on his terms, at home with his wife of 58 years, daughter and 2 great grand-daughters at his side. He is preceded in death by his father, mother, and a brother, William Lester Long. Born in Goodland, Kansas to William Elwood Long and Verla Glenn (Hartley) Long, Lee served for 20 years in the US Air Force. He joined the Air Force during the Korean conflict. He served his country twice during the Vietnam War; once as a medic flying injured soldiers out of Vietnam in Operation White Eagle. His second tour in Vietnam was as a Club Manager for both Officers and Enlisted personnel. While most of his career was spent at Davis-Monthan AFB, he was also stationed in Turkey, Greenland, and New York. Following his retirement from the military, he continued to work in various areas and retired lastly from the Amphitheater School District as a bus driver. He volunteered for the Mountain View High School Band Parents as their equipment manager for 5 years. He truly enjoyed working with and watching the kids excel in their music. He was known as Papa to all of them. They touched his life as much as he touched theirs. Lee was a devoted father and grandfather. When he was able, he loved to travel with his family. Camping and boating and then into sand rails and ATV's. More than anything, he enjoyed being around his grandchildren. His favorite song to sing to all of them was "I love you a bushel and a peck". In addition, he loved to agitate the girls by singing Tom T. Hall's Little Baby Ducks adding that he "loved squirrels and little squirrely girls". Lee leaves behind his wife Patricia and four children, Dan (Kelly), Patty, Ronald Moore (Carol), and Linda (Moore) Thayer (Les), 16 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren. Lee is also survived by his sister, Naomi Kathleen Clifton of Chico, Texas, many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. A memorial service with military honors and interment of cremains will be held May 23, 2015 at St Marks Methodist Church located at La Canada and Magee. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the St. Marks Youth Program.