James B. Long

March 21, 2018 at 3:27 p.m.

By -

SYRACUSE — James B. Long, 81, born March 12, 1937, to Harold and Dora A. Long, died in the arms of his loving wife and children on March 19, 2018, at home.

Jim graduated from Geneva High School and then earned an aeronautical engineering degree from Purdue University as a member of Phi Delta Theta. He served in the U.S. Air Force, 34th Bomber Squadron (SAC), during the Cuban missile crisis.

He was a commercial airline pilot with United Airlines for 32 years, retiring in 1997.

He was a member of Tippecanoe Country Club, where he served on the board, and enjoyed his Tuesday, Friday and Sunday groups of golf. He also played South Shore Golf Club with a group for 20 years.

He loved taking the grandchildren on boat rides to watch wildlife. He loved feeding the birds, especially the orioles. He was a member of North Webster United Methodist Church, where he sang bass in the choir, and served as chairman of the trustees for many years.

Jim leaves behind his wife, Brenda Hartley Long; daughters: Shannon (Jim) Wallace, Amy (Jack) Hallaert and Jennifer Cottrell; sons, Andrew (Lisa) Long and Dr. Ked (Julie) Cottrell; 12 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and a sister, Lois (John) Skelly.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one granddaughter, Jennifer Marie.

A celebration of Jim's life will be at noon Saturday, March 24, at North Webster United Methodist Church, with Pastor Byron Kaiser officiating.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service from 11 a.m. to noon.

Interment will be in Westlawn Cemetery, Geneva, with military honors at a later date.

Eastlund Funeral Home, Syracuse, is handling services.

*****

Memorials to North Webster United Methodist Church.

SYRACUSE — James B. Long, 81, born March 12, 1937, to Harold and Dora A. Long, died in the arms of his loving wife and children on March 19, 2018, at home.

Jim graduated from Geneva High School and then earned an aeronautical engineering degree from Purdue University as a member of Phi Delta Theta. He served in the U.S. Air Force, 34th Bomber Squadron (SAC), during the Cuban missile crisis.

He was a commercial airline pilot with United Airlines for 32 years, retiring in 1997.

He was a member of Tippecanoe Country Club, where he served on the board, and enjoyed his Tuesday, Friday and Sunday groups of golf. He also played South Shore Golf Club with a group for 20 years.

He loved taking the grandchildren on boat rides to watch wildlife. He loved feeding the birds, especially the orioles. He was a member of North Webster United Methodist Church, where he sang bass in the choir, and served as chairman of the trustees for many years.

Jim leaves behind his wife, Brenda Hartley Long; daughters: Shannon (Jim) Wallace, Amy (Jack) Hallaert and Jennifer Cottrell; sons, Andrew (Lisa) Long and Dr. Ked (Julie) Cottrell; 12 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and a sister, Lois (John) Skelly.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one granddaughter, Jennifer Marie.

A celebration of Jim's life will be at noon Saturday, March 24, at North Webster United Methodist Church, with Pastor Byron Kaiser officiating.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service from 11 a.m. to noon.

Interment will be in Westlawn Cemetery, Geneva, with military honors at a later date.

Eastlund Funeral Home, Syracuse, is handling services.

*****

Memorials to North Webster United Methodist Church.
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