Frank Jeffrey Long

RALEIGH- Frank Jeffrey Long, known as Jeff to all of us, was born and raised in Southern California. He joined the United States Marine Corps in July of 1980 where he served as an infantryman, Military Policeman, and Criminal Investigator. In May of 1982 he married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Bradford. They began their lives together in Okinawa, Japan, then later returned to Tustin Marine Corps Air Station before Jeff’s separation from the Marine Corps as a SSgt in 1988. Together with their new baby boy, Kyle, the family moved to Greenville, NC where Jeff attended East Carolina University while serving on the Greenville Police Department’s Community Action Team which was designed to address street level narcotics. He and his dog Max were one of the department’s first K-9 teams. In 1994, after graduating from East Carolina University with a degree in Criminal Justice, Jeff received his commission through the Air Force Officer Training School. He and his growing family, (add Karsey) moved to Hawaii where he was Asst Chief, Combat Readiness & Resources, 15th Transportation Squadron, Command Transportation Resources Officer, Directorate of Logistics, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, and Officer in Charge, Air Terminal Operations Center and later OIC, Passenger Services, 635th Air Mobility Support Squadron (AMC), at Hickam Air Force Base. The family’s next move to Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio also included their adopted daughter, Annalise. In September 1999, Jeff graduated with his Master’s Degree from the Air Force Institute of Technology. While in Graduate School, Kaylee, their youngest child was born. Following graduation, Jeff remained at Wright Patterson, AFB as Chief, Transportation Resources and Plans and later Chief, Transportation Manpower and Mobility Plans, Directorate of Logistics, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command. In 2002, the completed “6-pack” family moved to Georgia, where Jeff became the Logistics Career Broadening Officer, Directorate of Logistics, Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. Their final duty station took them on an adventure overseas to Ramstein AFB, Germany. Jeff became Aerial Port Operations Officer, 723d Air Mobility Squadron (AMC), then the Aerial Port Flight Commander, 723d Air Mobility Squadron (AMC) before retiring as a Major in September of 2008. He moved his family one last time to Raleigh, NC where he worked as a Junior ROTC Instructor at Pine Forest High School for two years. Lastly, he managed a warranty and customer service call center at Pentair in Sanford, NC where he worked courageously until he was no longer able due to the restrictions of ALS. These final years in NC were full of blessings including the expansion of his family via his new son-in-law, David Erickson and his grandbaby, Myra Frances (her middle name is the female version of her Pops first name, Frank) and his daughter-in-law Laura Ann Long. October 14 would have been four years to the day for his ALS diagnosis. On that day he said ALS would not define him or his family and he proved that to be true to the very end. Our family would like to extend our gratitude to both the Duke ALS Clinic, the Jim “Catfish” Hunter ALS Association, and the Durham VA for their amazing support through a very difficult journey. Survivors include his wife, Barbara B. Long; daughters, Karsey Erickson (David), of Travis Air Force Base, CA, Annalise Long of Raleigh and Kaylee Long of the home; son, Kyle Long ( Laurie) of Brunswick, GA; parents, Frank and Robbie Long of Columbus, OH; grandchild, Myra Erickson; sister, Sherri Herbst (Lee) of Winterville, OH; brothers, Brian Long (Cyndi) of Montgomery, AL; and Eric Long (Danielle) of Ft. Hood, TX. Jeff leaves a legacy of integrity and humor and will be missed by many. A memorial service will be held 3:00 pm Sunday at Triangle Community Church, 4216 Kildaire Farm Rd., Apex, NC. Burial will be Tuesday, October 6th at 12 noon in Sandhill’s Veteran’s Cemetery, Spring Lake, NC.