Prayers for Bill Long and his family

[Tbear]

Our old friend Bill Long passed away today. He was in the hospital suffering from pneumonia when he passed. He had been in the hospital in December and got out to have a great holiday with his family and friends. He returned to the hospital in January. Please remember Bill and his dear wife Lyn and the rest of his family in your prayers. I'll post more information as I receive it.

[2K2BIRD]

Oh dear, that's terrible news. Bill Long was the salt of the earth. You would have to look long and hard to find a more pleasant human being on this planet. He lived an amazing life and we always loved hearing of it. We were lucky to have traveled with him several times. The last time I believe was our Waltz Across Texas in 2017. Being from Canada, he was a long way from home on south Padre Island and in Big Bend National Park.

Covid may not have taken him from us, but I feel sure it likely kept us from ever seeing him again, with our travel being curtailed in the last 2 years.

RIP, dear friend.

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[65TBSTEVE]

Such a nice man and we were lucky to have known him. He was quite the dancer during the Muscle Shoales TBN event.

[merlot4]

Best thoughts and wishes to his family, RIP.

[snowbird]

What a shock to get up to this morning . RIP Bill, you will always be remembered .

[ISSYRO]

So sad to hear, rest in peace Bill!

[TBird97]

Fred Foster called me this morning to give me the sad news of Bill's passing. I met Bill when we started the monthly coffee meets here in Burlington. Always quiet and unassuming, Bill could be a mine of information. He loved his Retro Bird and was determined to visit every state in the continental U.S.
I will miss him
Rest in peace, my friend.
My sincere condolences to his family..

[AZTB]

What a precious guy. Never got to meet him, but everything I saw and heard from and about him spoke to me that he was a man I'd like to meet. God bless his family in their time of loss.

[Gobird]

Sorry to hear this news.

[050TBRD]

I was shocked to hear the news this morning, as were many others. Bill lived just a few houses up the street from me for many years, but with the passing of time he moved into a condo in the same area and I lost track of him until we both met at a Thunderbird meeting not ever realizing we had both purchased a 2005 Retro (not the same color) and a closer friendship grew from our loved of the Thunderbird. He was a happy man when he met Lyn and their lavish wedding plans were dashed by covid. A small family wedding did the job and happy days followed. Bill recently became an executive member of the Southern Ontario Thunderbird Club and was looking forward to help plan our events for the coming summer, he will be missed.
On behalf of all members of the SOTC, we wish to express out sincere condolences to Lyn and their extended family.

[CROW]

Being a member of the SOTC and meeting with Bill and others on our Tim Hortans coffee nights. Bill always had a smile and a story of his adventures as a youth and young man. In Bill's career as a pilot and teacher plus a certifying body of junior pilots, he had worked for companies like Ward Air (a large charter flight company in the 70s/80s)
One story he told, was the experience of being able to RE Fly, recently, of his War issue plane which he had flown to obtain his pilots license. Many years between a student and an experienced pilot.
May you rest in piece my friend, I will miss your and your little quips

[2K2BIRD]

He loved his Retro Bird and was determined to visit every state in the continental U.S...

Bill was scheduled to finish up his quest to become a member of the Celebrate Forty-Eight Club during our Thunder Out West tour in 2018. Unfortunately, he had some health issues arise before the trip that prevented him from traveling outside Canada at the time. We certainly missed him on the trip.

[snowbird]

Here is Bill's last flight back in 2017 when he turned 80 years young . As Wally mentioned , this was the same plane he flew back in the day as a trainer . May your flight forever continue Bill .

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[007Cruiser]

I never had the honor of meeting Bill but the fond memories of the others above speak volumes as to the kind of person that he was. My sincere condolences to those he left behind.

[5bird7]

Sorry to read this today. Apparently I've known Bill Long for many years but could never recognize him when I've repeatedly met him. He always remembered me at several of the TBN events I've been to in the past and I'm pretty sure he also went to some CTCI events I've been to for an even longer period.
May he rest in peace.