Bobby Cecil Long

Bobby Cecil Long, 83, of Hickory died Saturday, November 11, 2014 following an extended illness. Bobby was born August 26, 1931 in Burke County to the late William Cly Long and Flossie Elizabeth Abernathy Long. He was a member of Central Baptist Church in Hildebran for over 50 years.

Bobby is survived by his wife of 58 years, Merlene Costner Long; sons, Alan Long and wife, Gina of Hickory, Brian Long and wife, Gwen of Morganton and Gavin Long and wife, Emily of Leesburg, VA; grandchildren, Daniel Long and wife, Joy, Alex Long and wife, Emily, Beth Long Jordan and husband, Zac, Clinton Long, Raegan Long, Reece Long, Eliot Long, and Sutton Long; great-granddaughters, Elizabeth, Anna Grace, and Mary Wrenn Long; and sister, Betty Saunders of Valdese.

A celebration of life service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at Central Baptist Church with the Rev. Darrell Webb officiating. Entombment will follow at 3:45 p.m. in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens Mausoleum in Hickory. The family will receive friends Monday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to Central Baptist Church, 107 10th St. SE, Hildebran, NC 28637.

Bobby was a veteran of the United States Navy. He worked as a design draftsman for more than 41 years, serving most of his career at Martin E. Burrows and Associates and Brittain Engineering, both in Hickory, NC. He leaves a rich legacy as a loving husband, a patient father, a gentle grandfather, a caring friend, a dependable deacon of more than 40 years and a faithful servant in all ways.