Robert J. Long

EL DORADO - Long, Robert J. "Bob," 86, passed away Thursday, March 1, 2012 at Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital after a short illness. Bob is survived by his wife, Bonnie of 39 years, and his two sons, Brad (Kathy) Long of El Dorado and Bart (Mary) Long of Dallas, Texas. Bob was born on a farm southwest of Augusta, Kan., the only child of Robert LeRoy and Mary Gwendolyn Goatley Long. He attended grade school at Floral through the fourth grade and then moved to Douglass, Kan. and lived with his grandparents, Edgar and Pearl Goatley. He graduated from Douglass High School at the age of 16 in 1942. He attended El Dorado Junior College for one year while working partat the Skelly Refinery in the laboratory. In March 1944, he enlisted in the Navy Vprogram at Maryville Missouri State Teachers College. After one year of combined naval training and college courses, he was transferred to Ft. Schuyler Midshipman's School located in the Bronx, N.Y., where he received his commission as an Ensign in July 1945. He was the commanding officer of USS PCHe remained in the Naval Reserve and retired as a Lieutenant. Bob returned to Skelly in 1946 and completed 42 years of service for Skelly, Getty and Texaco. He retired in 1984 as the traffic supervisor for the refinery. During this time he had his own insurance company, worked for Murray Insurance, and was a motion picture projectionist at theatres in El Dorado and Augusta. Bob was an avid sports fan. He attended the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. Bob and his wife Bonnie were long time Shocker basketball fans. They followed the teams across the country and to Japan and Hawaii. Bob attended many NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA basketball tournaments. After coaching little league baseball, Bob became the coach of the American Legion Post 81 team, and later was the business manager for ten years. During this time the teams won a state championship in 1966 (placed third in the national regional), followed by two second and two fourth place finishes in state tournaments. Bob was a St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan for 76 years. He was inducted into the El Dorado Baseball Hall of Fame and also the El Dorado High School Booster Club Hall of Fame. He was a member of the American Legion Post 81 and the Military Officers Association. Bob loved to travel and saw all 50 states and 21 foreign countries. Additional survivors include: three grandchildren, Kristen (Craig) Scribner, Barrett (Stacie) Long, and Brooke (Matt) Shemwell; and four greatAlexandra, Carter, Avery, and Brenna. Also surviving are stepdaughters, Marsha (Bill) Flemister and Nancy (Adrian) Rodgers of Wichita; stepgrandchildren, Jeff (Kathy) Madzey, Sheri (Mike) Huckleberry, and Mandy (Chris) Cheevers; and six stepgreatBrody, Cameron, Mason, Carson, Owen, and Faith. Funeral services will be held Monday at 10 a.m. at the First Christian Church of El Dorado. Interment will follow at Lakeview Cemetery, 12100 E. 13th St. N., Wichita. Family visitation will be Sunday afternoon, 4p.m., at KirbyFuneral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the El Dorado Baseball Hall of Fame or Bradford Memorial Library at KirbyFuneral Home, 224 W. Ash, El Dorado, KS 67042.