C. Marvin Long
June 18, 1926 - May 2, 2012
Obituary
Marvin Long, 85, passed away peacefully on May 2, 2012 at the Judson Park Health Center, of complications from congestive heart failure. He had been faithfully attended by his four sons and the wonderful Franciscan Hospice staff.
Marvin was born on June 18, 1926 in Pomeroy, Washington, the oldest of four children born to Clark and Hazel Long. After graduating as valedictorian from Pomeroy High School, Class of 1943, Marvin enrolled at Curtis Wright Tech in California. Upon completion of studies at Curtis Wright, Marvin enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he was assigned to sea duty as a gunner on the aircraft carrier USS Midway. His experience in the Corps was one of the watershed events of his life. Following his completed military service, Marvin enrolled at the University of Idaho, obtaining a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering while maintaining a 4.0 grade average. He then went on to obtain his M.S. in Jet Propulsion from the California Institute of Technology and was hired by the Boeing Commercial Airplane Company in 1952.
The single most important aspect of Marvin’s life began in September 1941, when he met Edith Caroline Schock, his soul mate for the next 70 years. They dated through high school and married in 1947 after Marvin’s discharge from the Marines. In 1952, Marvin and Edith moved to Wichita where they started a family and Marvin commenced his successful 30-year career with Boeing. One of his early careers’s most personally challenging and rewarding achievements was finding new positions for virtually all of his staff when Boeing reduced manning for his Wichita division by 90% after the loss of the TFX contract. Shortly after that event, Marvin and Edith moved to Seattle where they raised four boys, all Eagle Scouts, all college educated and all successful in their respective careers. Marvin loved his family. His work commute from south Seattle to the Everett plant where he was the Propulsion Technology Manager for the 747 project ended in 1982 when Marvin retired after 30 years of service.
In retirement, Marvin and Edith hosted frequent family gatherings while enjoying traveling, skiing, hunting for morel mushrooms in the spring, and following the stock market. They were doting grandparents and loving friends. Marvin was a loyal member of the NRA and a staunch supporter of the Museum of Flight in Seattle. After 45 years in their Normandy Park home, they moved to Judson Park Retirement Community in Des Moines. Marvin’s lifelong soul mate Edith passed away there in October 2010.
Marvin was preceded in death by his brother Ray and his wife Edith. He is survived by his sisters, Marjorie Bickel and Ellie Soderberg (Joe), his four sons Lorin (Merry), Ken (Rena), Randy (Julia), Brian (Julie) and four grandchildren, Chris (Katie), Risa, Hannah, and Ben.
I would like to express my deepest sympathy for the loss of your loved one. The loss of someone close is difficult to bear but may it comfort you to know that others care. I have found great encouragement when reading the beautiful words penned in the Bible at Isaiah 25:8 ” He will actually swallow up death forever, and the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will certainly wipe the tears from all faces.” May this promise also comfort you in this difficult time.