Emily Lenker Long, 94, of Silver Spring Township, formerly of Susquehanna Township, died peacefully on Sunday, April 29, 2018, with her family at her side. Born June 26, 1923 in West Hanover Township, she was the daughter of the late William David and Flora Shields Lenker. She was born and raised on Lenkerbrook, the family farm where her family owned and operated Lenkerbrook Farms Dairy. She was the widow of Robert R. Long, Sr., her husband of more than 55 years who passed in 2007.
Her unwavering faith, love of, and dedication to, her family, and commitment to her community formed the cornerstones of her life.
Mrs. Long was retired from the Joseph T. and Helen M. Simpson Foundation where she served as Administrative Assistant for the foundation and its late chairman, Jerry T. Simpson. She also owned, along with her husband, and operated the former Keefe Corset Shoppe in Harrisburg. Previously, she served as Executive Assistant to LeGree S. Daniels, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education. She also served the Commonwealth at the Department of State and the Public Utility Commission. Mrs. Long served as a legal secretary for several attorneys and firms, most notably for the late Colonel John McIlhenny Smith, Esquire, of Nauman, Smith, Shissler and Hall, Harrisburg.
She was a member of Baughman United Methodist Church, New Cumberland, and previously, a longstanding member of Grace United Methodist Church, Harrisburg, where she served as Sunday School Teacher, President of the United Methodist Women, Chair of the Staff-Parish Relations Committee and Member of the Board of Trustees.
Mrs. Long served as Member and past-Chair of the McInroy-Sheffer People Trust; Executive Secretary to Mrs. Richard K. Mellon, Chair of the Women’s Advisory Committee for the Executive Mansion of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, during its construction; Member of the Women’s Committee for the Governor’s Home during the Thornburgh Administration; Susquehanna Township Treasurer; Member and past-Secretary of the Board of the Heinz-Menaker Senior Center; Member of the Advisory Board for the Pennsylvania State Treasury Tuition Account Program; Member of Zonta International; and Member and past-Secretary of the Civic Club of Harrisburg.
A staunch, lifelong Republican, Mrs. Long served as a member and past-President of the Dauphin County Council of Republican Women; Two-term State Committeewoman; Member of the Dauphin County Republican Committee; Housing Chair for the Pennsylvania Delegation to the Republican National Conventions of 1992 and 1996; and Housing Chair for the first Inaugural of Governor Tom Ridge.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her five brothers, John L. Lenker, William S. Lenker, David F. Lenker, Jesse S. Lenker, and Theodore L. Lenker; and two sisters, Eleanor Mae Cook and Ruth L. Hummer.
Surviving is her daughter Emily Long Hoffman of Halifax Township, wife of Dwight; two sons Robert R. Long, Jr. of Silver Spring Township, husband of Pamela, and Richard W. Long of Hampden Township, husband of Michelle; six grandsons, three granddaughters and one great-grandson.
Mrs. Long was a graduate of Hershey High School and the former Hershey Junior College.
A viewing will be held on Thursday, May 3, 2018, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Neill Funeral Home, 3501 Derry Street, Harrisburg. A funeral service will be held at Grace United Methodist Church, 216 State Street, Harrisburg, at 1 p.m. on Friday May 4, 2018. The family will receive visitors at the church prior to the service beginning at noon. Interment at Paxtang Cemetery, 490 North Paxtang Avenue, Harrisburg, will follow the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Baughman United Methodist Church, 228 Bridge Street, New Cumberland, PA 17070, The Boys & Girls Club of Harrisburg, 1227 Berryhill Street, Harrisburg, PA 17104 or Halifax Swim Club, Inc., P.O. Box 544, Halifax, PA 17032.
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