Obituary: George Henry Long, 88, of Middlebury

Born: March 09, 1928

Died: March 24, 2016

Services: A funeral service will be held on Tuesday March 29th at 11 a.m. at Middlebury Congregational Church, 1242 Whittemore Rd. Burial will follow in Middlebury Cemetery.

Visitation: Calling hours will be held on Monday from 5-8 p.m. at the Woodbury Funeral Home of Munson-Lovetere, 2 School St. Woodbury

George Henry Long died peacefully at home on 3/24/16. He was born in Naugatuck, CT on 3/9/28 to Isabelle (King) Long and Walter Henry Long. He was predeceased by his wife Leone (Halstead) Long.

George lived most of his life in Middlebury, He was a Constable for the Middlebury Police Department in the 1940’s and 50’s. From his late teens until 1951 he drove trucks and heavy equipment for George Richards, the Peterson family and lastly Steve Malione. He drove a school bus in Middlebury for Tom Judd from 1951 to 1953, when he purchased the Bus Company, which he owned until 1956. He was a Middlebury volunteer fireman from the 1940’s until 1957 when he retired as a Captain and honorary member.

He worked at Westover School in Middlebury first as an Assistance Superintendent and then Superintendent from 1956 until 1973. He then worked for LF Powers Mobil driving an 18 wheeler oil tanker until his retirement in 1990. He was an avid bowler participating in the Middlebury Mixers for many years and enjoyed camping with his family especially on Hermit Island in Maine. He was active in the Lion’s Club for many years.

He also enjoyed singing and participated in a choral group and in variety shows. He loved to whistle and sing traditional hymns at church and was a proud longtime member of the Middlebury Congregational Church, having joined in 1946 He spent his retirement years in Englewood, Florida and Dennisport, Cape Cod prior to returning to his beloved Middlebury.

He is survived by 2 daughters: Deborah Long Pope and her husband David Pope of Watertown and Sheryl Long of North Carolina and a son Kenneth Long and his wife Shari Thompson Long of Middlebury. He is also survived by 2 granddaughters Rachel Pope of Watertown and Rebecca Pope of Kennebunkport, Maine. He is also survived by his loving companion Theresa Casella. He loved spending time with her family, especially her 2 grandsons Mitch and CJ.