Loren "Ted" Theodore Longman

He was born April 17, 1923 in Marshalltown, Iowa.  He began his life as an Iowa farmer.  He attended a one room country school for the first eight years and then graduated from Marshalltown High School.  He was drafted into the Army in 1944 and sent to the B-29 program for training.  He served in the Pacific theater, flying missions over Japan from Tinian Island and Okinawa.  His experience on Okinawa taught him never to eat pineapple again.  When a supply for Okinawa was sunk, the only plentiful food was pineapples.  He said pineapple was served three times a day until another supply ship arrived from the U.S.  He learned to hate ships on his return from Okinawa.  He always said the 28 day voyage back with 10,000 troops on board to San Francisco was the only sea cruise he would take.  He never did get aboard a ship again.  He returned to Okinawa for the Korean War and flew 66 missions.  The last few years he carried a copy of his Korean War record in his wallet and would produce it quickly to prove his war service if he was asked about it.  He next was sent to England for the Berlin Airlift.  His B-29 group flew cover support missions flying picket missions along the East German and West German borders with atomic weapons aboard with orders to head into Russia if any support aircraft were attacked.  While in England he met Jane Spreckley, who he married in 1948.  He retired from the USAF after 20 years of service in 1964.  He attended the University of Tampa and received his BS in Business Administration in 1970, while working full time at Fairchild/Hiller Aircraft Company.  He was later elected the position of Business Representative by members of IAM & AW (Machinist Union).  He retired from this position in the early 1980’s and spent his retirement in Brooksville, Florida, working on numerous fun (for him) projects.  He will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years: Jane Longman; sons and daughters-in-law:  Barry Longman of Flagler Beach, Florida, Richard & Susan Longman of Brooksville, Florida and Ralph T. & Jan Longman of Alexandria, Virginia; daughter: Debra Longman of Tallahassee, Florida; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00am, Thursday, July 26, 2018 at Merritt Funeral Home, Brooksville Chapel, with Pastor Joe Santerelli officiating.  An Inurnment will follow at 12:30pm at Florida National Cemetery with military honors.

ARRANGEMENTS BY

MERRITT FUNERAL HOME

BROOKSVILLE, FLORIDA

(352) 796-6699

“Family Owned & Operated”

www.merrittfuneral.com