Obituaries: Jerry Zane Long Sr. (Dec. 2, 1929 – March 21, 2011)

Jerry Zane Long Sr., passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on March 21 after a 20-year battle with prostate cancer. Jerry was born in Gresham, Ore., on Dec. 2, 1929, and moved to California with his family at age five. He graduated from Del Norte County High School in Crescent City in 1947. He joined the Navy at age 17 and went to Electronics School in Great Lakes, Ill. After graduation he was stationed in San Diego. In 1951 he was sent to Korea and spent one year aboard the USS Bayonne PF-21 along the coast of Korea. After his return to the States he was stationed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he met his wife of 58 years, a dental technician in the Army. He attained the rank of Chief Petty Officer at age 23, one of the youngest in the Navy at that time. He left the Navy in 1955 and attended Humboldt State College in Arcata, Calif., graduating in 1959 Cum Laude with a degree in Physics. He went to work for the Federal Aviation Administration and retired in 1985 as Manager of Airway Facilities at the Air Traffic Control Center in Fremont, Calif. After retirement he became an avid bicyclist – riding 15 miles a day, 5 days a week for 25 years.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Edward (Ted) Long and Christine (Tina) Long.

He is survived by his wife June, son Jerry Jr. (Carol), three grandchildren Kelly Long (fiancé Ryan Gray) of Windsor, Tim Long of Santa Rosa and Nathan Long and his wife Kriston both in the U.S. Navy stationed in Yokosuka, Japan. He is also survived by his sister Virgina Stennett (Bob), two brothers, Roger (Pauline) and Dale (Ruth) Long all of Crescent City, and many in-laws, nieces, nephew and cousins.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 9, at 1 p.m. in the Chapel at Santa Rosa Memorial Park at 1900 Franklin Ave. in Santa Rosa. Interment will be at the Veterans Patio Wall Niche in the park.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to memorial Hospice North County, 205 East Street Healdsburg, CA 95448.

— Submitted by Family