Jack Walter Long

Jack was born in San Antonio, TX on March 18, 1929. He lived in Texas and Oklahoma until 1941 when his family moved to Kansas City, Missouri.

He earned the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America in 1945. In 1946, he graduated from Westport High School in Kansas City. He served as an aviation electronics technician second class in the U.S. Navy from 1946-1948. He attended Kansas City Junior College from 1948 to 1949 and attended the University of Kansas from 1949 to 1952. He graduated in 1952 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He enlisted in 1949 with the US Army ROTC and was honorably discharged in 1951. He was discharged again in 1955 as Second Lieutenant CE USAR.

He married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Ann Harrington, on January 28th, 1949. They had four children - Mike, Pat, Linda, and Jim. The family had many happy years taking family vacations, camping, fun times at the lake on the houseboat and the ski boat, and taking trips on the small planes that Jack flew. They were active members of University Baptist Church with involvement in the youth group, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, and other volunteer opportunities.

In 1965 a new manufacturing company called GEMCO was created by Jack and two engineering colleagues, Ron McCutcheon and Coyote Johnson. On June 24, 1967, a dedication ceremony was held for the opening of a new building that would house all the company's operations under one roof. The big event was attended by then Oklahoma Governor Dewey F. Bartlett, and then Oklahoma Congressman Page Belcher, among others. GEMCO manufactured technical training aids to train airline pilots, mechanics and flight attendants, which was a boon to the aeronautics field of the day. The company operated successfully until the introduction of digital simulation. He resigned as president in 1971 and GEMCO eventually merged with Flight Safety, which continues to operate in Broken Arrow.

Barbara and Jack divorced in 1973.

Jack married Suzanne Cumberledge on January 6, 1978, in Tulsa, OK. Jack had given up being a part of corporate America by this time and the two of them lived a somewhat nomadic life, chasing a variety of interests. Suzanne had an infectious laugh and appreciated Jack's corny sense of humor.

During the mid-seventies Jack became interested in the bands that Mike and Pat were a part of and formed a company called Sum of Us. For a few years he booked some very talented local bands in the area, traveling and following the music in his van with Suzanne by his side. Go to bluerosefamily.com to find details on this period of his life.

In 1980-1981 Jack and Suzanne lived in Missouri as a part of the Greenwood Forest Association where they were a part of a group of homesteaders living off the land and protecting the Greenwood Forest from development. They were very active in the community there and reluctantly decided to move on for personal reasons. During this time Jack began working from home by creating Aerofax, an aviation data company, and he continued with this for many years.

In 1982 they made the move back to Oklahoma. In 1985 they bought 80 acres outside of Winchester in northeastern Oklahoma and started clearing the land with plans to build a home there.

From 1987-1993 they cleared the land and built a post and beam house on the 80 acres. They dug a large pond with a dock for swimming and small boats for fishing. Family and friends attended a house-raising party when the walls went up and celebrated their success in getting to that point. This was their dream home, and they enjoyed many years living there in the beauty of the natural setting.

For personal reasons they reluctantly sold their home on the 80 acres and moved back to Tulsa. Suzanne took a position with Tulsa Community College in their computer department and began putting money away for retirement.

When the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City was destroyed by a bomb on April 19, 1995, Jack and Suzanne were on the scene as ham radio operators during the rescue operation.

In 2011, they settled into a home where they planned to spend their retirement together.

Suzanne began mysteriously losing motor skills and was diagnosed with Multiple Systems Atrophy soon after their last move. When Jack could no longer care for her at home, she moved to Saint Simeon's Senior Community. In order to be close to Suzanne, Jack took a room in the assisted living area and supported her in every way that he could until her death in April of 2017.

Jack lived independently in an apartment for a few years after Suzanne's death. During this time (at 88 years old), he began riding a three-wheel bicycle for miles at a time in order to get outdoors, keep his body moving, and to pass the time. He set up a flight simulator in his living room. He bought a gamer's racing car seat and adapted a table in front of his TV with pedals and a joystick. He could program in his destination and fly anywhere he wanted from his apartment. While living in the apartment he reconnected with Barbara, his brother, Bob, and his wife, Joy, and a few other lifelong friends over games of dominoes and TU basketball. The isolation of the pandemic put a stop to those gatherings and took a toll on his mental and physical health.

He moved to Saint Simeon's in 2021. There he found friends and lived the last part of his life safe, healthy, and content.

Most of Jack's family lives here in Tulsa. Pat's daughters and their families live in Nashville and made a special trip to spend some time here just a few weeks ago so Barbara and Jack could both see their great-grandchildren. The family will always be grateful for this time that we spent together.

Jack was preceded in death by sons, James Robert Long, and Patrick Steven Long; wife, Suzanne Cumberledge Long. His first wife, Barbara Troutner, died just 21 days after his death. He is survived by son, Mike Long and his wife, Nancy of Tulsa; daughter, Linda Barton and her husband, George of Tulsa; grandchildren, Nick Barton, Jackson Barton, Jacob Long, Cassie Anderson, and Oliva Padilla; great grandchildren, Kinsley, Cara Grace, and Carson.

Donations may be made in Jack's name to the Democratic Party or to Saint Simeon's Senior Community.

A memorial service is currently pending and details will be posted here once available.

Arrangements entrusted to Schaudt's Tulsa Funeral Service.