J. Yvonne Long

J. Yvonne Burkhart Long
September 22, 1935 ~ July 17, 2021

Yvonne Long, 85, a resident of Quincy Village, Waynesboro, went to be with her Lord on Saturday, July 17. Born at home on Sunday, September 22, 1935, in Shippensburg, she was a daughter of the late William H. and Vada Mae Rotz Burkhart.

She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Ray H. Long. Other survivors are their son, John Wesley Long and his wife Alicia; grandson Jeffrey of Huntington, WV; sisters Judy Kane and husband Bernie of Cypress, TX, Kay Harrison and her husband Norm of New Bloomfield, PA, and Connie Reddy and her husband Pat of Pasadena, CA; 20 nieces and nephews, a large extended family, as well as a special penpal/sister since 1945, Sylvia of Bath, England.

Vonnie, as family and friends called her, and Ray, were high school sweethearts and married July 15, 1954. She was a graduate of Shippensburg High School class of 1953. She worked for United Telephone Co., Southern Bell of N.C., Bell Telephone Co. in Harrisburg, and in Civil services at Dunham Army Hospital at the Carlisle Barricks, and in personnel and payroll at Letterkenny Army Depot in Chambersburg. Later, Yvonne worked for her husband at Long’s Insurance Agency in Mercersburg, PA, until the Lord called them as ministers in the Salvation Army. At ages 48 and 49, they answered His call; took further education in Theology, preaching, counseling, Bible and music. Appointed in dual ministry, the Salvation Army commissioned them as ministers of the Gospel as administrators and pastors in Allentown, PA, Dover, DE, Berwick, PA, Pottstown, PA, and Corps and Family Shelter in Shamokin, PA.

Ray and Vonnie retired in 1999 to Florida’s nature coast. They team taught the Adult Sunday School Class at the Salvation Army Citrus County Corps. They enjoyed boating, traveling, and Holiness Camp meetings.

In 2012 they relocated back to Pennsylvania settling in the Independent Living Cottages in Quincy Village.

Active in communities where she lived, Yvonne was a Cub Scout Den mother, President of Needlework Guild of Mercersburg, member of the Franklin County Chapter of the D.A.R. since 1976, Franklin County Historical Society, Women’s Club of Mercersburg, Tuscarora P.T.A. and Salvation Army Veteran Officers League. She was active in Waynesboro Church of the Brethren and volunteered at Quincy Village doing visitation and coordinating Hymn sings.

With Ray, she was a Mercersburg U.C.C. youth fellowship leader. As a Salvation Army minister she was Program Director and in joint service with Ray as pastor, preacher, teacher and Christian counselor in each congregation. She enjoyed singing with the Quincy Village Chorus, her church choir, and sang solos and played piano in each Salvation Army charge.

She was always interested in the lives of her family and friends and the world around her. She enjoyed Church, Bible study, good music, singing, playing the piano, art, reading nature, camp meetings, travel, Gospel concerts, plays and old movies.

In high school she was a cheerleader, a school newspaper editor, member of the G.A.A. and chorus, and the National Honor Society.

As a young person, she did creative writing, and watercolor and oil painting. She wrote newspaper articles, did sewing, needlework, and participated in sports. She was patriotic and inherited an interest in history, genealogy, and journalism.

Her funeral service will be held on Friday, July 23, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. in the Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home & Crematorium, Inc. Officiating will be Pastor John Weber. Interment will be in the Spring Hill Cemetery. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy can be made to the Chambersburg Salvation Army Corps, 169 Lincoln Way West, Chambersburg, PA 17201.

On-line condolences may be expressed at www.fogelsanger-brickerfuneralhome.com.