Wendell Jackson Long

Long, Wendell Jackson, age 90, of Knoxville and Vero Beach, Florida, died Friday, September 23, 2011. He was born on March 29, 1921 in Wartburg, Tennessee to the late Arthur Balaam Long, Sr. and Minerva Williams Long. Wendell lived all over the state of Tennessee, moving with his father's construction company. Wendell received an appointment to the United States Military Acadamy at West Point in 1942 and graduated in 1945. After being commissioned as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army Air Corps he trained as a pilot and was qualified in bombers and transport aircraft. He went on to fly as a Command Pilot in the Berlin Airlift and as a VIP transport pilot stateside after the Berlin Airlift ended. During his tenure in the military, the United States Air Corps became the United States Air Force and he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force being Honorably Discharged in 1949. Wendell married Frances Jereldine Carlen Long on March 22, 1952 and they moved to Knoxville where he, his father and brother ran A. B. Long Construction Company. In his final days he often said his crowning achievement was his role as a loving husband and father. Wendell was preceded in death by his parents, sister, and brother. He is survived by his wife, Frances Carlen "Jere" Long; son and daughter-in-law, Jack and Carolyn Long of Austin, TX; daughter, Loucinda Long of Richmond, VA; grandchildren, Jackson Ray Inscoe, Benton Ross Inscoe, Adam Jackson Long, and Carlen Elizabeth Long; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Walter and Linda Carlen; sister-in-law, Margaret Carlen and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to give a special thank you to his caregivers for their kindness and tender care of Wendell; those being Robin Pataro, Gayle Wilson, Shirley Patrick, Erbie Isbel, Katie Stanford and Haley Murphy. A celebration of Wendell's life will be held 11:30 AM Monday at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel. Honorary Pallbearers, Jack Long, Bill Green, Arthur B. Long, III, Jack Inscoe, Benton Inscoe, Adam Long and Ford Little. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to Tennessee Tech University, 1 William L. Jones Dr., Cookeville, TN‎ 38505, where Wendell was a member of the President's Circle. Online condolences may be sent towww.rosemortuary.com. Arrangements by Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel. www.rosemortuary.com