Dr. Eugene M. Long II, 79, of Elon passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at his residence on Wednesday, August 17, 2016, at 5:00 p.m.
A native of Alamance County, he was the husband (38 years) of the late Gray Duncan Long and husband of (15 years) Deborah Thurlow Long. He was the son of Nathan Alexander Long and Lyda Lee Long, both deceased, and stepson to Reginald Glenn Miller also deceased. Dr. Long was a retired obstetrician/gynecologist and a veteran of the U. S. Air Force. He was a member of Front Street United Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Deborah Thurlow Long, two daughters, Kerrie Long Kendall of Burlington and Dayna Long Bowline and husband Beaver of Cumming, GA; son, Eugene Monroe Long, Jr., and wife Laura of Greenville, NC; twin brother, Jerry A. Long and wife Nancy of Burlington; brother, Alan Long and wife Nancy, deceased, of Raleigh; seven grandchildren, Tanner, Kendal, Lindsay, Ryder, Haley, Duncan and Gray; three step-children, Mary Alice, Vernon and Rebecca; and three step-grandchildren, Anderson, Oliver and Isaac.
In 1959, Dr. Long graduated from Davidson College and then attended Duke University Medical School, graduating in 1963. He served an internship at Duke Hospital from 1963 to 1964. He moved to Birmingham, Alabama, in 1964 to 1969 for his medical residency. From 1969 to 1971, Dr. Long served as a Major in the US Air Force in Tucson, Arizona. After serving his country, he moved to Burlington to set up practice and to be near family. He practiced at Alamance Clinic for Women for the first ten years and then practiced at Kernodle Clinic until he retired in 2004.
As an OB/GYN physician, Dr. Gene Long was hard-working and loved his profession. He took great care of not only his patients, but of his friends and family as well. Someone once said to him, “Dr. Long, I think you delivered half of Burlington.” In the last few days of his life, he encountered several patients who remembered him so fondly and told him how much they appreciated him. This was a testament to his life.
Dr. Long’s family loved him with all their hearts. He was their Hero and they all looked up to him. They all wanted to make him proud and follow in his footsteps. He set the perfect example for family…how to be loving, caring and selfless. His kindness, compassion and gentle way will be missed by all.
A visitation will be held at Rich & Thompson Funeral and Cremation Service in Burlington on Saturday, August 27, from 2:00 to 4:00.
A private graveside service for family will be conducted at Pine Hill Cemetery in December.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Elon Academy at Elon University, 2105 Campus Box, Elon, NC 27244 or to Habitat for Humanity, Post Office Box 5036, Burlington, NC 27216.
Published in TheTimesNews.com from Aug. 19 to Aug. 21, 2016