Olan Lamar Long, 91, passed away peacefully with his family by his side Wednesday, October 24, 2018. Ollie Long was born in Pomroy, Ohio, the son of an Evangelical United Brethren preacher. His mother, died when he was young, and he spent his early youth living on the hill in Vinton county, Ohio, with his grandmother and aunts while his father traveled and preached. To combat the loneliness of missing his mother and father, Ollie dreamed he could fly, souring each night to anywhere he wanted. He kept this ability all his life. World War two broke out when he was 17, and he lied about his age and joined the Navy. He was on the Douglas Fox destroyer during the Okinawa blockade, riding in the stern responsible for steerage if the upper deck was damaged. He was hit by bombs and kami cozies and watched several shipmates die. Returning from the war, he married Marcella Jeffries. He never graduated from High School but got his GED. He briefly attended Franklin University. He went into business for himself installing antennas and repairing TVs. His secret was to install the antenna with some slack so they would give, not break. Ultimately the TV repair business did not work and he took on odd jobs until he joined Kilgore designing squirt guns and cap pistols. From there he joined Westinghouse and designed dishwashers receiving 26 patents along the way. He had 5 kids over 12 years, Jeff, Sue, Mick, Mike and Jim. Living in Hilliard Ohio, he became a volunteer policeman and was elected a councilman. He always had boats. On the Scioto river, his boat capsized. He dived several times under the boat and saved the life of Norma Thurston. He left Westinghouse to become the Plant Engineering for Brown Rubber in Lafayette, Indiana for several years until they went out of business, then returned to Westinghouse and dishwashers. When Westinghouse dropped the dishwasher, Ollie decided to start his own business, Olan Plastics. Between him and his son Jim, Olan Plastics has existed over 30 years. Olan and Marcie loved to travel. They had motor homes and toured the nation with several trips to Alaska. They took their boat from Lake Erie to Florida down the East Coast, then took it from the Ohio river to Florida. They went on cruises though Europe and China as cruise hosts. They went to Florida almost every year, and finally settled in the Villages, enjoying their friends as long as health would permit. A good life. Olan is preceded in death by his loving wife of 63 years, Marcella Long. He was survived by his children, Jeff (Debbie) Long, Sue Barlow, Patricia (Dave) Prichett, Mike (Cindy) Long and Jim (Terri) Long; 17 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. Family will receive friends Thursday, November 1, 5-7pm, at Kauber-Fraley Funeral Home in Pataskala. A funeral service celebrating Olan’s life will be held Friday, November 2, at 10 am at the funeral home, with burial following at The Pataskala Cemetery.
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