On January 20, at the age of 79, Richard Charles Long finished this life's race at his home in Salem, Virginia. He is survived by Rhoda, his wife of 58 years; his children, Michael, Andrew and wife Catie, Timothy and wife Jodi, Miriam and husband Andrew, and Rebecca; his grandchildren, Noah and wife Audrey, Zachary, Amelia, Luke, Grace, Sophia, Madeline, Ethan, Naomi, Aidan, Evangelyn, Esther and Isabella; and by his great-grandchildren, Natalie and Abigail.
Richard was born in Lebanon, PA in 1941. He married Rhoda Lehman Ritchie, his high school sweetheart, served his country in the US Air Force, worked at McDonnell Douglas Aircraft and in 1969 answered the call to be a missionary. He planted churches and taught pastors in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in Bolivar Province, Ecuador. He returned to the US and settled on the south slope of Fort Lewis Mountain above Glenvar in Roanoke County where he worked at Salem Frame/Rowe Furniture to provide for his family. After retiring from Rowe, he worked part time at Richfield Living where he brightened the days of those he came in contact with, until the final days of his life.
The family will host visitors on Saturday, February 6, 2021 at Calvary Memorial Church 2226 Colonial Avenue SW, Roanoke, VA, beginning at 2:00pm and will follow with a Memorial Service at 3:00pm. An online guestbook is available for family and friends by visiting www.johnmoakey.com.