John Long Jr.

FRANKLIN - John Boyd Long Jr., 84, passed away on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, at North Carolina State Veterans Home.

A native of Franklin, he was the son of the late John Boyd Long Sr. and Helen Gribble Long. He was also preceded by his wife, Judy Chastain Long; sister, Joann Long Gregg; brothers-in-law Grady Gregg and Gene Brown; and sister-in-law, Nancy Long.

John served in the United States Air Force as a navigator. He was an educator for 30 years in the Cleveland County, North Carolina, school system and later a realtor for 18 years. He had a love of history, poetry, and music. John loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. He was a devoted husband and father.

He is survived by his daughter, Donna Long Lipscomb and her husband Gerald of Forest City and their children Alisa Phifer, Jordan Phifer, Gerald Lipscomb (Anna) and their children, Emerson and Jackson, Patrick Lipscomb and great-grandson, Aleck Lipscomb; daughter, Pamela Long Skinner and her husband Scott of Boiling Springs, and their children, Joshua Skinner (Chelsey), Lindsay Skinner and great-grandchildren Oliver and Ruby Cate Skinner; daughter, Caroline Long Ruch and her husband Ben of Oak Ridge, and their children, Holden Ruch and Alexandra Ruch; brothers, Charles Long, Dennis Long, and Donald Long; sisters, Evelyn Huscusson, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life was held at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 27, at Macon Funeral Home in Franklin. The family received friends prior to the service. Rev. Ronnie Branson officiated. Burial followed at Woodlawn Cemetery.

V.F.W. Post 7339 and American Legion Post 108 conducted military rites.

Pallbearers were Josh Skinner, Jordan Phifer, Holden Ruch, Stephen Baldwin, John Branson, Mark Brown and Bobby Brown.

Online Condolences can be made to maconfuneralhome.com. Macon Funeral Home handled the arrangements.