James William (Jim) Long died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Sherwood Oaks Retirement Community in Cranberry Township, PA on January 26, 2022. He was 94 years old.
He was born on October 27, 1927 to J. William (Bill) and Anna Pauline (Defenbaugh) Long in Plainfield, NJ. In 1951, Jim married his beloved sweetheart, Mary Jane McWilliams. She preceded him in death just one week prior to their 67th wedding anniversary.
Jim attended high schools in Plainfield and Caldwell, NJ. where he was active in scouting, rising to Eagle Scout. After completing two years at Oberlin College, he enlisted in the Army and served in Salzburg, Austria as part of the reconstruction effort following World War II, earning the rank of sergeant. He was honorably discharged in 1948, and upon return to the US completed his undergraduate education at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, NY with a degree in mechanical engineering. He went on to teach at RPI while continuing coursework for a master’s degree, which he finished at Drexel University in Philadelphia.
His career took him (and his family) across the country. He was employed by Owens-Illinois Glass Company in Berlin, NJ as an engineer, after which he decided to change direction to purchasing. He was employed in that capacity by Blaw-Knox Company in Hanford, WA (part of the Hanford Atomic Works facility), Pittsburgh, PA, and Mattoon, IL and then by Mack Trucks in Hagerstown, MD. Another career change led him to Weatherhead Company where he served as plant manager at facilities in Cleveland and Columbus, OH and in Columbia City, IN.
But in 1970, his entrepreneurial dream came to fruition when he and several partners formed Continental Hydraulic Hose Corporation in Upper Sandusky, OH. He later went on to establish Diamond Plastics, Inc. in Dunkirk, OH, again with several partners. He officially retired from the business world in 2009 at 82 years of age.
Jim was active in the Presbyterian church, volunteering there in many capacities, and also served a term on the Upper Sandusky School Board. He enjoyed collecting English porcelain and playing bridge with Mary as his partner.
But his real passion was for travel which began in college when he hitch-hiked across the US with a broken leg. He was always eager to go to new places to see natural wonders and to experience different cultures with their unique histories. He and his wife Mary travelled extensively in the US and around the world. Their travels took them to 102 countries and they sailed together on 29 cruises. The highlights of his travel however were the 16 biennial week-long family reunions when the entire clan would gather somewhere in the US for a time of family celebration.
He is survived by four daughters: Kimberly (Fred) Crowley of Sewickley, PA, Cynthia (Joe) Sweet of Brentwood, TN, Pamela Bittner of Bozeman, MT, and Karen (Brent) Olson of Kalaheo, HI; four grandchildren: Suzanne (Jon) Feyen, David (Kelly) Crowley, Samuel Bittner, and William Bittner: and five great-grandchildren: Julianna Feyen, Brody Feyen, Hailey Feyen, Ryker Crowley, and Ansli Crowley.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and his brother John Long.
He will be laid to rest with his wife Mary at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Bridgeville, PA.
Published by Boylan-Glenn-Kildoo Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. Cranberry Twp. on Jan. 28, 2022.
