Gene was born February 15, 1937 in South Bend, Indiana, to Merritt Eugene Long and Ethel M. Stout Long. He had one sister, Martha Ann Long Russell, all deceased. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Terry Elizabeth Anderson Keller Long; four children...Alicia Diane Long Norton, Bruce Eugene Long, Carla Jean Long, and David Alan Long; one stepson, Geoffrey Lee Keller, and two grandsons, Aiden Alan Long and Collin Joseph Long; one niece and nephew, Beth Ann Russell and Jeffrey Dean Russell; and one great niece, Alexandria Ann Russell-Mills.
Gene graduated high school in South Bend and in his Senior year accepted Christ as his Savior at River Park Gospel Center there. He was accepted at Kentucky Mountain Bible College in Jackson, Kentucky, and pursued Ministerial Studies from 1955-1958 when he graduated. Gene then returned to Bethel College, Mishawaka, Indiana, to complete his BA degree in Biblical Studies in 1962. In 2007, Gene was chosen Alumnus of the Year at Kentucky Mountain Bible College for spiritual leadership and his contributions to holiness literature, having authored two published books by that year and afterwards three more. His "Survey of Holiness Literature" Volumes 1 and 2 have been used as college textbooks.
Gene's life has been filled with various pursuits and achievements. He is a former Pastor of two churches in Indiana, and a Business owner, Financial Analyst, and Project Analyst in Memphis, retiring from EnSafe in 2009. During the 1980's Gene pursued a Masters Degree in History at the University of Memphis where he was a member of the Epsilon-Nu Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta. In the early 1990's he served as Vice President of the Hotel de la Monnaie Board of Directors in New Orleans and later President.
Throughout his life Gene had a thirst for knowledge and was an avid reader, often reading three or four books at a time. He had many hobbies and interests and immersed himself in each one. He loved traveling to new places, genealogy research, coin collecting, history (especially Civil War history), all types of music (particularly Southern gospel), loved people and loved sports. He often said he was born a Chicago Cubs fan and was equally as committed to the New Orleans Saints. Watching Saints games with his wife was a highlight of his week.
Gene was a devoted, caring, compassionate man with a wonderful sense of humor and a calm, peaceful spirit. He loved life and his family, but at the core of his being was the love of God's Word...studying, preaching, and teaching. He often said he wanted to be able to teach the Word as long as he lived, and by the grace of God he was able to do so, teaching Bible classes at Bartlett Baptist Church from the early 1990's until the Lord called him home.
