Charles E. Long

On Sunday, June 16, 2019, Charles Edward ("Chuck") Long, loving husband and father of four children, passed away at age 88 at his home surrounded by his loving family.

He was born July 30, 1930 in Pittsburgh, PA to Ralph M. and Anna F. Long. After his discharge from the Korean War, Chuck returned to Venango County and went to work for Jim Phillips at Phillips Auto Body on Riverside Drive in Oil City, and in 1962 opened his own auto body shop, Long's Auto Body on Main Street in Seneca, PA of which he operated for 40 years until his retirement in 2002. On July 14, 1956 he married Sara ("Sally") Louise McQuown, who survives, They raised one son, Jack, and three daughters, Sharon, Barb, and Julie. A fourth daughter, Kathleen died shortly after child birth.

On March 20, 1952, Chuck was inducted into the Korean War, where he saw combat on the front lines for twelve consecutive months as a member of the 31st Infantry Polar Bears Division, a Division that fought an endless series of battles across central Korea's cold, desolate hills that included Old Baldy, Triangle Hill, OP Dale, and the most well-known, Pork Chop Hill, a battle that was fought three times, and which Chuck fought in all three. By the war's end, the 31st Infantry had suffered many times its strength in losses.  Chuck was a highly decorated combat infantryman, receiving the Combat Infantry Badge, Presidential Unit Citation (awarded for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy), Korean Service Medal with 3 bronze stars, United Nations Service Medal, Nations Defense Service Medal, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, and Good Conduct Medal. He was recently honored with receiving the Ambassador for Peace Medal issued by the Republic of Korea.

He was a fifty-year member of the Petrolia Lodge No. 363, Venango Lodge of Perfection, and New Castle Consistory and Zem Zem Shrine

 Chuck was very active in volunteering his time for the Shriner's Hospital for Children, a charitable organization that he was very passionate about, and one that Chuck donated hundreds of hours to by providing transportation to and from the hospital for crippled and burned children, along with their parents. Another of his most rewarding volunteer activities was teaching the auto body trade to a class

of residents whom he loved from the Polk Institute under a state sponsored program at the Venango Technology Center.

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He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Oil City.

Chuck was preceded in death by his daughter, Kathleen, father, Ralph, mother, Anna, brothers Jay and Robert Long, sister Roxanne Long, and son-in-law William M. Lamberton. He is survived by his son Jack and wife Kathleen of Eustis, FL, daughter Sharon and partner Jon Sterling of Oil City, PA, daughter Barb Young and husband Brad of SugarCreek, PA, and daughter Julie Schwab and husband Bryan of Oil City, PA; Grandchildren Taylor Long of Eustis, FL, William C. Lamberton & his wife Janille of Oil City, PA, Erica Lamberton Tisch & her husband Andrew of Pittsburgh, PA, Leah Lamberton of Pittsburgh, PA, Casey Young of Sugar Creek, PA, Kara Young Bates & her husband Thomas of Ellisville, MS, Bryan Schwab, Jr. of Oil City, PA, and Alexandra Schwab of Oil City, PA; Great grandchildren Hannah Lamberton of Oil City, PA, Sydney Lamberton of Oil City, PA, Jaxson Bates of Ellisville, MS, and Edward Joe Bates of Ellisville, MS.

Visitation will be Wednesday, June 19th from 1:00 p.m to 3:00 p.m. at the Reinsel Funeral, 116 Bissell Avenue, Oil City, PA 16301, Funeral Services will be held at 3:00 P.M. in the funeral home with Rev. Ronee Christy, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Presiding.  Military Honors will be accorded by the V.E.T.S. Honor Guard.

Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Shriner's Hospital for Children, 1645 W. Eighth St., Erie, PA  16505. Online condolences can be sent to Chuck's family at www.reinselfuneralhome.com.

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