COL. THOMAS BYRD LONGEST, USA Ret. died September 27, 2002 at Springmoor Life Care Retirement Community, Raleigh, North Carolina. He was born in King and Queen County, VA on May 6, 1913. He was a graduate of the Citadel, Charleston, SC in 1935 with a BS Degree in Business Administration and a Commission as a 2nd Lt. ORC. His armed services career spanned more than three decades. He was a veteran of World War II and the Vietnam Era Conflict. Awards include the Legion of Merit and the N.C. Distinguished Service Medal. In the early 1950’s, he joined the N.C. National Guard and also served the State of N.C. as the Assistant and the Adjutant General. His last assignment as U.S. Property and Fiscal Officer. He retired in 1973. Col. Longest was a member of Hayes Barton Baptist Church, the Trinity Bible Class, and the Golden Kiwanis of Raleigh. He also was a life member of the Association of Citadel Men, The Retired Officers Association, the NGAUS and DAV. Internment will be 11:30 a.m. Monday at Montlawn Memorial Park. Memorial service will be held 2:00 p.m. at the Hayes Barton Baptist Church with Dr. David Hailey, Rev. Tom Bodkin and Rev. Phyllis Mayo officiating. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 55 years, Elizabeth Edmundson Longest in January 1993. Surviving: wife, Caroline S. Lanier Longest of the home; daughter, Frances L. Andrews of Raleigh; brother, Frank A. Longest of Mount Airy, NC; sisters, Mrs. Martha L. Tuttle of Rocky Mount, NC, Mrs. Katherine L. Klemovich of Leaword, KS; granddaughter, Lynn C. Balance, grandson, Greg T. Casey, both of Raleigh. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Hayes Barton Baptist Church, 1800 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, NC 27608 or Hospice of Wake Co., 1300 St. Mary’s St., Raleigh, NC 27605 or to the charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Saint Mary’s Street, 828-4311.
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