Robert Willard Long

Robert Willard Long, age 94, of Rose Hill, VA, was born on January 25, 1931, in Rose Hill, VA. He was known as Willard by most who knew him. He departed this life on October 19, 2025, at the Middlesboro Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility after a brief illness.

Willard was a member of the Arthur’s Chapel Holiness Church in Rose Hill, VA. Many of us will always remember the little happy dance that got in his feet when the spirit of the Lord fell on him.

Willard was a veteran of the United States Army and was stationed in Fort Knox, KY. He was a 32nd Degree Mason in the Scottish Rite and a Shriner.

Willard was born to Theodore and Ollie Sue Daniels Long, one of 13 children, and raised in southwest Virginia. He started early in life working on overhead power lines, starting in Southeast Kentucky. When work ended in Kentucky, he was transferred out west working in several different states. While he was working in Colorado, he found the love of his life, Norma Jean Marsh, who consumed 73 years of his life before she passed away in August 2025. They were united in Holy Matrimony in Taos, NM, on July 5, 1952. After finishing his employment in Colorado, he came back to Virginia. Soon after returning to Virginia, he started working for an electrical contractor doing inside electrical work on many different types of jobs throughout the eastern United States. He worked on housing complexes, military bases, office buildings, and many others. He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers for 69 years. His last power line work was running the transmission line from Smith, KY, to the sub-station near Hall’s Hill in Rose Hill, VA. He retired his hooks and belt when this job was completed. From this point on he transferred his outside lineman ticket in the IBEW to become an inside journeyman electrician. Notable jobs he worked at included Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plant in TN, Phelps Bend Nuclear Power Plant in TN, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Plant in Georgetown, KY, job sites in and around Detroit, MI, and ended his electrical career as the first electrician at the Cumberland Gap Tunnel Project, from which he retired to concentrate on his farm life. He continued to assist others with electrical issues until he was physically unable. He had a real strong work ethic which he passed on to his children but was sometimes short on patience. He demonstrated a strong sense of determination, beginning any task immediately upon considering it and persisting until the work was completed.

Willard and Jeanie had a strong passion for praying for the sick. They traveled untold miles visiting homes, nursing homes, and hospitals to pray for the sick. Usually, they not only prayed for the one they came to see, but also for anyone who asked; or if they felt like you needed prayer, they prayed. Willard and Jeanie were true prayer warriors. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.

Willard was preceded in death by his wife of 73 years, Norma Jean Marsh Long; father and mother, Theodore and Ollie Sue Long; sisters, Genell Newton, Lillian Long, Elizabeth Hensley, and Thelma Neal; brothers, Grover Long, Claude Long, Austin Long, Charles Long, Jay Harold Long, and Steve Pendleton; and grandson, Justin Stuart Long.

He is survived by his daughters, Patricia Smith (Rayvon), Kernersville, NC, Debbie Long, Tazewell, TN, and Katherine (Dan) Brooks, Rose Hill, VA; sons, Bob (Darlene) Long and Rodney (Jo) Long, all of Rose Hill, VA; grandchildren, Jessica Smith, Amanda (Randy) Jones, Jonathan Smith, Shawn Renee Vaught, Chasity (Aws) Al Sallami, Jason (Julie) Cottrell, Travis Cottrell, Amber (Tom) LaBatt, Danielle (Ryan) Jett, Kaleb (Sarah) Rivers, Cody (Amy) Long, Elaina Raine Al Sallami, Rachel LaBatt and Brianna LaBatt; great-grandchildren, Alex Smith, Elaina Jett, Kennidy Hurt, Kaylee (Cody) Moore, Sydney (Stephen) Seale, Nicole (Gavin) Sweet, Dalton Long, Clara Cottrell, Brayden Chadwell, Kaitlyn Long, Makayla Long, Ava Long, Addie Long, Tanner Long, Rodney Hugh Long, Ella Long, Gina Martin, Shawn Martin, Alessandra LaBatt, and Isaac LaBatt; great-great-grandchild, Sedona Moore; sister, Brenda (Larry) Owens, MI; brother, Don (Barb) Long, Rose Hill, VA; and sister-in-law, Audrey Jean Long, as well as a host of other family and friends.

The family wishes to extend a heartfelt thanks to the staff and nurses of the Middlesboro Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility for their kindness, love, and help during Willard’s stay there. We also want to thank his roommate, David Earl Gilbert, for taking Willard and Jeanie under his wing by watching over them and helping them when needed.

The family of Robert Willard Long will receive friends on Thursday, October 23, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Cawood Funeral Home Chapel, Middlesboro, KY.

Visitation will continue from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Friday, October 24, 2025, at Arthur’s Chapel Holiness Church, Rose Hill, VA. Funeral services will immediately follow at 1:00 p.m. with Rev. Richard Long, Stephen Vaughn, and others presiding. Brother Mark Long will read the obituary. Music will be provided by the Arthur’s Chapel Holiness Church family.

The family requests that those attending the visitation and funeral service at the church respect the dress code of the church.

At the conclusion of the funeral service, family and friends will travel in procession to Lee Family Cemetery, Rose Hill, VA, where graveside services will be held with full military honors provided by the Harlan Honor Guard. Pallbearers will be Cody Long, Kaleb Rivers, Jason Cottrell, Travis Cottrell, Jonathan Smith, and Dalton Long. Honorary pallbearers will be Mark Long, Frank Dixon, and Josh Pendleton.

Online register book and condolences are available at www.cawoodfh.com.

All arrangements for Robert Willard Long are under the care of Cawood Funeral Home, Middlesboro, KY.