Gary Lee Long

Gary is survived by his loving wife of 65 years (January 5th) Joanne Lorraine (Gubisch) Long and their beloved three children, son-in-law and daughters-in-law: Teri Lorraine Kirk (Gregory), Mark Allen Long (Tammie) and Brett Allen Long (Dorothy). They were blessed with 5 grandchildren and a step-granddaughter: Adam James Kirk (Kathleen), Ryan Joseph Kirk, Samantha Lorraine Kirk Jefferson (Timothy Allen), Brandon Allen Long, Alyssa Nicole Long and Meredith Kiel (Robert) and their great-grandson Harrison (Harry) George Kirk.

Gary was born on August 5, 1932 to his beloved parents the late Lora Lee Long and Emma (Walley) Long in Washington D.C. He was raised in the Brookland N.E. section of the District of Columbia and attended McKinley Tech High School. Gary served in the U.S. Navy and was assigned to the U. S. S. Gherardi DMS-30 during the Korean conflict. After his honorable discharge, he worked as a Route Salesman for Chestnut Farms Dairy. In 1958, he joined the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department serving for over 21 years including 19 years as a member of the K-9 Corp with his beloved canine partners Smokey IV and Ken I and 15 years with the Civil Disturbance Unit of the Special Operations Division. During the 1968 civil disturbance in Washington D.C. following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. he was assigned to the 4-man CDU Medical Cruiser.

Upon retiring from the D.C. Police Department, Gary was employed as a personal bodyguard to a foreign diplomat and his family and staff until 1980 when he became Director of Security at Prince George’s Plaza. A position he held for 8 years. During that time, he sustained two broken legs from a fleeing car-jacker, who had attempted to steal a vehicle with the owner inside from the Mall’s parking lot. The owner of the vehicle was slightly injured by a knife and in an ironic twist of fate the owner’s name was Emma Long, Gary’s Mom.

Gary “finally” retired after working another 12 years in security for Senator Jay Rockefeller and his family.

Gary was a member of American Legion Post 217, College Park, MD and a Master Mason and member of Justice-Columbia Lodge No. 3, F.A.A.M. of the District of Columbia.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Robert E. Evans Funeral Home, 16000 Annapolis Road, Bowie, MD 20715 and will be posted at a later date.