Longley, Ralph Lyman (Died Aug. 26,1980)

LONGLEY, WATTERSON, OBRIEN

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 2/24/2010 at 12:48:03

Grinnell, Iowa (Herald-Register) Sept, 4, 1980

RALPH LONGLEY DIES IN FLORIDA

Ralph Lyman Longley, 88, of 2732 Goldenrod St., Sarasota, Fla., formerly of Grinnell, died Friday, Aug. 26, at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

Funeral services for Mr. Longley were conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday at Toale Brothers Colonial Chapel, Sarasota, with the Rev. John H. LaMotte officiating. Burial was at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Arcadia, Fla.

Should friends desire, memorials in Mr. Longley's name may be made to the Florida Sheriff's Boys Ranch, Boys Ranch, Fla., or the Girls Villa, P.O. Box 1380, Bartow, Fla.

Born in Grinnell, Mr. Longley moved to Florida 30 years ago. He was a retired farmer. He was the author of an historical novel, "Cabin on the Second Ridge," sold here during Grinnell's 125th anniversary celebration. The book depicted the Grinnell area.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, the Grange, Focht-Tennant Post No. 53 of the American Legion, Hermon Masonic Lodge, Sons of the American Revolution and the Forest Lakes Country Club, and he was a charter member of the Sarasota County Historical Society. Mr. Longley served with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War I.

He is survived by his wife, Julia Lee Longley of Sarasota; a son, Charles E. Longley of Orlando, Fla.; two daughters, Charlotte Watterson of Atherton, Calif., and Mary Alice O'Brien of Burlington; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.