Frank Alexander Longest, Sr

Mr. Frank Alexander Longest, Sr.'s faith was perfected when he went home to heaven to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Thursday, April 29, 2010. Mr. Longest was born July 31, 1915, in King and Queen County, VA, near the family ancestral home, Dunkirk. Mr. Longest was the third of seven children born to Frank Brown Longest and Martha Jeter Longest, who preceded him in death. Also, preceding him in death were his two brothers, Col. Thomas Byrd Longest and Beaufort Brown Longest; and two sisters, Edna Worth Longest and Edith Longest Leggett. Mr. Longest was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Lorene Graham Longest, just six weeks ago, to the day, on March 18, 2010. They were married on May 22, 1943 in Salisbury, and they were committed and devoted to each other for over 66 years. Honoring Mr. Longest's memory are his son, Frank Alexander Longest, Jr., and daughter-in-law, Lee Winstead Longest, of Burlington; and his daughter, Barbara Longest Raynor, and son-in-law, R.J. Raynor, of Rocky Mount. One grandson, William Alexander "Alex" Longest of Atlanta, GA; and two granddaughters, Meredith Ashton Longest of Boston, MA, and Blair Kendal Raynor of New York, NY. Mr. Longest is survived by two sisters, Martha Tuttle of Rocky Mount and Katherine Longest Klemovich of Leawood, KS; and his sister-in-law, Mary Teachey Longest of Rose Hill; as well as many dear and special nieces and nephews. Mr. Longest graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1937 with a B.S. degree in business and commerce with a concentration in accounting. Mr. Longest accepted an executive position with Mount Airy Furniture Company, a premium furniture manufacturing company, where he served as treasurer, financial officer, and partner with the Yokley Family until his retirement in 1980. After a brief retirement, Mr. Longest began his second career as warehouse manager with Bray's Tire Company in Mount Airy, where he worked until October of 2008, when a broken hip unexpectedly ended his career at the age of 93. Mr. Longest proudly served in the United Staets Army Air Corp. during World War II. He earned the rank of Captain and was the aide/adjutant to General Ryan, who was in charge of re-establishing the Pacific Headquarters of the Air Transport Command for the Pacific Theater of Operations, at Hickam Field in Hawaii. The Air Transport Command was responsible for getting supplies to all the troops in action and for transporting wounded soldiers back to the United States mainland. At the end of the war, Mr. Longest was offered the rank of Major, but he declined and chose to return to civilian life. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his dedication to duty and distinguished service to his country. Upon returning to civilian life, Mr. Longest joined his father's expanding lumber and wholesale grocery businesses and he and Mrs. Longest lived in both Smithfield and Weldon before being asked to return to his pre-war position with Mount Airy Furniture Company. Mr. and Mrs. Longest returned to Mount Airy in 1949, where they spent the rest of their lives. Mr. Longest was a faithful and dedicated member of First Baptist Church for over 60 years. He had served as church clerk, treasurer, deacon, chairman of the finance committee, trustee and member of the Poplin-Bray Sunday School Class. Mr. Longest was also active in the community where he had been a member of the Kiwanis Club for 55 years, and he had also served as president of the club. Among his other civic activities, he had served on the Board of Directors and as an officer of the Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce, the Mount Airy Youth Foundation, the Mount Airy Chapter of the American Red Cross, and on the Salvation Army Board of Directors for over 30 years. He was a past member and treasurer of Mount Airy Country Club and a member of Cross Creek Country Club in Mount Airy. In 2004, at the age of 89, Mr. Longest received national recognition, in Washington, DC, when he was awarded the North Carolina Experience Works Award, for being one of the oldest people in the nation to be working regularly forty hours a week. Mr. Longest was an excellent contract bridge player and an avid reader. He enjoyed watching, professional golf, baseball games and his favorite Carolina Tarheels play football and basketball. He was a true Southern gentleman, a man of integrity and a true role model for his family. He was a humble, loving and caring husband, father and Pop-Pop to his grandchildren. The family would like to give sincere thanks to all the staff at the Ridgecrest Assisted Living Retirement Community of Mount Airy, where Mr. and Mrs. Longest had been living since the fall of 2008. We are grateful for all the love, care, support, and help that the staff have given to our parents the last two years. The celebration of life service for Mr. longest will be held Saturday, May 8, 2010, at 2:00 PM in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church in Mount Airy, with Pastor Dr. Roger Gilbert officiating. Burial will follow in Oakdale Cemetery in Mount Airy. Military honors will be conducted by VFW Memorial Honor Guard. The family will greet friends in the Fireside Room of First Baptist Church one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorials in Mr. Longest's memory be given to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, 714 North Main Street, Mount Airy, NC 27030.