C. Vincent Long Jr. died Friday, May 30, 2014, at the Hospice Home of Alamance-Caswell. Vincent was a much loved and respected member of his community, spending most of his life in his hometown of Burlington, N.C.
Born September 1, 1925, Vincent was the son of Claude V. and Alva Lee Currin Long.He graduated from Burlington High School and went on to study at Davidson College. His Davidson years were disrupted by the war and service in the U.S. Army Air Corps, before he graduated in 1948. He completed post-graduate work at the UNC-CH School of Business.
Vincent spent most of his career at Engineered Plastics Inc. in Gibsonville, which he joined in 1952 and served as President from 1962 until retirement. Under his guidance EPI expanded its manufacturing and distribution base to five states. He was a national leader in the nascent plastics industry through the Society of Plastics Engineers and National Association of Plastics Distributors (director, Treasurer, President). The NAPD recognized his service to the industry in 1989 with its highest honor, the Paul Davis Award of Merit.
A recognized leader in the business community, Vincent graduated from the UNC-CH Executive Program and served as an instructor in the Institute of Management Development. He was active in many local business and civic organizations, including Rotary Club of Burlington (past-President, Paul Harris Fellow), Burlington/Alamance County Chamber of Commerce (President), United Way of Alamance (Director) and Community Federal Savings & Loan (Director).
Notable in Vincent’s community contributions were his service to the Burlington City Schools Board of Education and to Alamance Regional Medical Center. Vincent served a six-year term on the School Board during the challenging period of school desegregation. His service to ARMC extended 34 years, first as a Trustee of Alamance Memorial Hospital and then as Director of Alamance Health Services, guiding the consolidation of the two local hospitals into ARMC. As a lifelong member of Front Street United Methodist Church, Vincent was actively involved in many areas of church life, including leadership roles with the Sunday School, Young Adult Fellowship and Administrative Board. While Vincent made many valuable contributions to his church, community, business, and industry, the most important thing to him was his family.
He and Eleanor Davidson Long were married for over 62 years until her death in 2011, a painful loss for him. Vincent is survived by his three children, Merrimon Kennedy (Tom) of Wilmington, N.C.; Eleanor Ann (Elan) Long (Douglas Watt) of River Forest, Ill., and Vincent Long III of Charlotte, N.C. Vincent is also survived by his three grandchildren, Erin Kennedy, Grahame Watt and Gordon Watt.
The family will receive friends at Rich and Thompson Funeral and Cremation Service in Burlington, on Saturday, June 7 from 5 until 7 p.m. A memorial service will be conducted Sunday, June 8 at 2 p.m. at Front Street United Methodist Church by the Rev. Marshall Old with a reception in the Heritage Center following the service. Interment will be in a private service at Gibsonville Cemetery.
Rich & Thompson Funeral & Cremation Service in Burlington is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be offered at www.richandthompson.com.