Bill Long Memories

WILLIAM "Bill" F. LONG, age 94, passed away on July 25, 2024, surrounded by his family.
Bill was born in Akron, OH, on January 26, 1930, and lived in Northeastern Ohio his entire life. He graduated from Copley High School in 1948 and Case Institute of Technology in 1952 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. From Case he started his career at the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co., initially working at the Lake Shore power plant. After 38 years, holding a variety of engineering and managerial roles, Bill retired from the same company, then known as Centerior Energy (now FirstEnergy), in 1990.
In retirement, Bill and his late wife, Ruth, expanded their volunteer activities, and were honored by the City of Brecksville in 2005 as Senior Citizens of the Year. Bill’s volunteer contributions included building 11 homes for Habitat for Humanity and being the founding President of the Brecksville-Broadview Heights Meals on Wheels, a position he held for 30 years. Over the years Bill donated 94 pints of blood to the American Red Cross, and was a volunteer driver for the Brecksville Department of Human Services. Bill was a Scout Leader for Boy Scout Troup 175 for 27 years and a Boy Scouts Frontier District Commissioner for 17 years.
In 2007 Bill traveled to New Orleans, LA, to help rebuild homes damaged by Hurricane Katrina, and in 2008 he flew to Biloxi, MS, to do the same, as part of a Mission Trip with First Church.
Bill was a member of Brecksville United Methodist Church for more than 50 years, and served on the Building Committee when the current building at 65 Public Square was in development in the late 1950’s. A few years later he was honored to chair the Organ Search Committee, and began reading extensively on the subject of pipe organs and organ building while coordinating the ultimate selection of Casavant as the builder for the church’s 1966 pipe organ. Bill became an organ music enthusiast, and he especially loved hearing hymns played on “his” organ. In the 1990’s, while serving as BUMC’s historian, Bill wrote a book on the church’s history, The Church by Chippewa Creek.
Ruth Jane Walus and Bill married on July 28, 1951, and four years later they bought a plot of land on Mill Road in Broadview Heights. With the help of Ruth, his parents, and other relatives, Bill built his first family home. Although Bill did not have a background in home construction, he explained that he learned by reading a book on the subject and always staying one chapter ahead so he knew what to do next. When the construction of I-77 was announced in 1967, the house on Mill Road had to be moved out of its path to avoid demolition. Bill relocated his growing family to Brecksville where Bill and Ruth raised their five children and where Bill remained a proud citizen until his passing.
Bill is survived by his children Susan "Sue" Ellenberger (Bill, deceased), Kathy Baksa (Keith), Nancy Farkas (Bernie) and Jennifer LeBlanc (Doug), his grandchildren Karen Ellenberger Maxwell (Dave), Allison Ellenberger, Emily Cosgrove (Pat), Jeff Baksa (Amanda), Phillip Long, and Evan and Jordan LeBlanc, and his great-grandchildren Evelyn and Henry Maxwell, and Peyton and Charlotte Baksa. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth, son Michael (Debbie, surviving) and brother Charles D. Long (Paula, surviving).
Bill was generous with his time and talents, providing expert guidance to anyone who had a home improvement project or challenging repair that needed to be done. He was known for his devotion to his family, and his calm, patient demeanor.
Family and Friends will be received at Brecksville United Methodist Church, 65 Public Square, Brecksville, OH 44141 on Saturday, October 12, 2024 from 10:00-11:30 a.m. followed by Bill's Memorial Service at 11:30 a.m. A private family interment was held at Brecksville Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Habitat for Humanity in Bill's memory would be appreciated by his family.