Clarence L. Long

He joined the U.S. Army in 1944, and served in Germany in the period immediately following the war and participated in the Berlin Airlift. He left the Army in 1949 with the rank of Technical Sergeant and returned to Arkansas where he spent much of his childhood. Clarence and his family moved to Victoria in 1952. He worked in the oilfield around Victoria as a rig welder and mechanic.

He is best known for the time he spent as Production Manager at the Skytop Brewster plant on Hwy 59 in the 1960’s and 1970’s. He left Skytop, in 1979, and started Rig Manufacturing, Inc.

He continued to be involved in that business until his retirement in 1995. Retirement provided more time to spend with his grandchildren and pursue his hobbies of fishing and raising vegetables in his garden.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce Long of Victoria Texas, his brother Bobby P. Long of Spring Texas; children, Clarence L. “Marty” Long, Jr. and wife Debbie Selby Long of Lago Vista, Texas, Stephen Ray Long and wife Suzanne Sengele Long of Missouri City, Texas; Step-children Bill Ethridge and wife Dr. Kathy Ethridge of Seguin, Texas, Karen Albrecht of Victoria, Texas, and Kathy Richard and husband R.J. Richard.

He had 11 grandchildren, Jeffrey Long, Justin Long, Jessica Long, Forrest Long, Stephen Ethridge, Kevin Ethridge, Zachary Ethridge,

Desirree Carpenter, Christopher Albrecht, Devon Richard and Sierra Richard; and three great- grandchildren, Wyatt Ethridge, Emma Ethridge and Kameryn Carpenter.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Etta Doris Stephens Long, and his siblings, Albert Long, Granville Long, Maggie Boyd, Hazel Cameron and Claude Long.

Visitation will be at Colonial Funeral Home on Friday, July 4, 2014 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Funeral Services will be held at Colonial Funeral Home on Saturday, July 5, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. A flag folding ceremony will be presented by the Victoria County Veterans Council.

Pallbearers will be Jeffrey Long, Jessica Long, Justin Long, Forrest Long, Larry Welch, and Phillip Gomez. Honorary pallbearers will be Christopher Albrecht and Brandon Carpenter.

The family wishes to extend special thanks to the staffs of Elmcroft of Victoria and Accolade Hospice of Yoakum.

Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Diabetes Association.

Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.colonialfuneralhomevictoria.com