Russell Lee Long

Russell Lee Long of Norman, OK, passed away peacefully Thursday morning, August 30, 2018, at Rivermont Gardens, with his wife, Nell, at his side for 72 years. He was 94.

Russell was born in Prague, OK, on May 12, 1924 to George Elmer and Mamie McGinn Long. George and Mamie moved their family to Norman in 1932, where Russell tells tales of repeatedly getting into mischief with good friend Jimmy Bumgarner, including jumping the fence to escape a bull.

Russell graduated from University High School, an OU teaching facility once located on the Norman campus. He enlisted in the US Navy, a seaman second class advancing to Ensign. After Pearl Harbor, he transferred from Naval ROTC to the Naval Air Corps. While waiting for orders, he was hired by Stanolind Oil and Gas Co. starting on a drilling crew in Canyon, TX. The Navy sent him to University of Texas, Baylor and University of Georgia for pre-flight school. Russ was assigned to Naval Air Station, Memphis, TN, where he met his wife, Nell, in a hanger as she was repairing wings. Their first date was on the Delta Queen stern-wheeler and they were married on December 26th, 1945, in Pittston, PA. Russ returned to military service as a 1st. Lt. in the Marines as pilot and forward air controller serving in Korea completing his service as a captain. He had several stories involving fellow Marine Edward McMahon.

He continued with Amoco Oil (various company names), primarily as a geophysicist. They lived around the world and had one child, son David Long. His work took him to six of the seven continents, missing Antarctica, and through several conflict zones. Russ and Nell lived in Argentina (twice), Aden, Libya, and Indonesia.)

Russell retired in 1984, ending up in Jakarta, Indonesia, having worked for Amoco for 41 years. Russ and Nell enjoyed traveling internationally to China, Australia, the Far East, Europe, and Africa. He became a published author, telling stories of excitement related to the regions of the world he’d traveled in for oil exploration.

Russell was preceded in death by his parents; brothers George N (Eulaula), Clarence J (Clara Lea), and Leslie H (Mary Esta), sister Jewell (Robert) Carter, and half-brothers Elna E (Lillian) Long, Harvey (Tommy Endicott) Robinson and Loy Robinson, and half-sister Mary L Long. He is survived by wife, Nell, of Norman, son David and daughter-in-law Nina and granddaughter Rebecca of Oklahoma City; grandson Dean and grand-daughter-in-law Mary and great-grandson Ethan, of Norman, and many nieces and nephews.

Russell moved back to Norman to enjoy his retirement and worked as a volunteer for the Stovall Natural History Museum at OU for several years.

Russ and Nell were founding members of St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, of Norman. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 12108.

Russ was well known for his stories (mostly true) of life experiences that he shared often with family, friends and all the caregivers he came in contact with.