Benjamin "Bennie" Asa Long

Benjamin Asa Long Sr. "Bennie," 90, of Conway, Arkansas, died Saturday, May 26, 2012. He was born February 20, 1922 to the late Charles and Agnes Long in Wheatley, Arkansas. He was a devoted member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Rose Marie Hess Long, and was the sole survivor of five children. B.A. was an Army Air Corps glider pilot during World War II. He was owner of the Kream Freeze in Helena, Arkansas for many years and later worked for the Arkansas Secretary of State. He leaves his sons, B.A. Long and wife, Donna, of Lexington, N.C., Dr. William Long and wife, Heather, of Sumter, S.C., Rodney Long and wife, Tina, of Little Rock, Ark., Richard Long and wife Tena, of Woodinville, Wash., and Brett Long and wife, Julie, of Biloxi, Miss.; his grandchildren, Laurie Briggs and husband Dan, Billy Long, Lindsay Lignon and husband Michael, Dr. Justin Long and wife Sarah, Dr. Lauren Lajzer and husband John, Jason Long, Carrington Long, Malisa Field and husband Brian, Ben Long and wife, Candice; his great-grandchildren, Sidney, Lyndon, Hadley and Jack Briggs, Kaylee, Max and Natalie Field, Jacob Long and Caleb Lajzer. He is also survived by his six step children and their families. The family would like to extend their gratitude to Bennie's friends who had breakfast and coffee visits every week, St. Joseph's Church Eucharistic Ministries for the Sick, his caregiver Donna Potts and Arkansas Hospice. Memorials may be made in Bennie's name to St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 1115 College Avenue, Conway, Ark. 72032, the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 102454, Atlanta, Ga. 30368-2454, Hospice Home Care, 2200 S. Bowman, Little Rock, Ark. 72211 or a charity of your choice. Visitation will be held Thursday, May 31, 2012 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with a Rosary Service at 6 p.m. at Griffin Leggett Funeral Home, 1751 Dave Ward Drive, Conway, Arkansas. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m, Friday, June 1, 2012 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church with Father John Marconi, Celebrant. Entombment with Military Honors will follow at St. Joseph's Cemetery. To sign the online guestbook, go to www.griffinleggettconway.com.