John Delmer Longanacre

1957

John D. Longanacre, 79, of Fort Spring, WV, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 15, 2017. Born October 18, 1937, in Sinks Grove, WV, to the late D.P. and Kate Blake Longanacre, he was the middle of nine children. He was married to Rebecca (Becky) Craft Longanacre, of Fort Spring, for 55 years. As a US Army veteran, he set up the first mortuary for service members killed in Vietnam. He was a funeral director for over 50 years, beginning his career with the Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Ronceverte WV and ending his career as the owner/operator of Longanacre Funeral Home in Fairlea and Fort Spring WV.

John was a prominent member of the community he served and took great pride in his family, his profession, and in the care he showed to those that trusted him to care for them. He was a Past Master Mason and a member of Monroe Lodge No 77 of Union (and previously a member of Shyrock Lodge No 47 of Ronceverte and Gauley Bridge Lodge No 64 of Gauley Bridge WV). He was a previous member of the Ronceverte Volunteer Fire Department and one of the first Emergency Medical Technicians in Greenbrier County when the Greenbrier Valley Emergency Ambulance Service was established. John helped establish the presence of the Salvation Army in Greenbrier County to aid families following devastating floods in the 1980s. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, the Muddy Creek Mountain Ruritan Club and a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Ronceverte where he served on many committees and in leadership positions.

He is survived by his wife, Becky, his son, Tim Longanacre, and wife Elizabeth Royal, of Burke, VA, his granddaughter, Jessica Lovejoy, and husband Michael, of Gainesville, VA, and two great grandchildren, Amelia and Fletcher Lovejoy, of Gainesville, VA. Also survived by two brothers, Paul Longanacre, and wife Linda, of Sinks Grove, Sam Longanacre, and wife Becky, of Glade Springs; four sisters, Norma Jean Wolford of Wytheville, VA, Joyce Stokes, and husband Pat, of Moneta, VA, Eloise Vass and husband Larry, of Moneta, VA, Ruth Ann Assaid, and husband Don, of Roanoke, VA, sisters-in-law, Vivian Longanacre, of Lewisburg, WV, Carolyn Longanacre, of Chickasha, OK, and many nieces, nephews, family and special friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Louis Longanacre and Jim Longanacre, brother-in-law, Charles Wolford, niece, Charlotte Longanacre, nephew, Doug Longanacre, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Visitation will be Saturday, March 18, 2017, from 12:00pm – 2:00pm, at Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Ronceverte, WV, followed by a graveside service at 2:30pm at Riverview Cemetery in Ronceverte, officiated by Pastor Stewart Farley and Pastor Greg Scott.

A reception will be held at Rudy’s Corner Grill in Ronceverte following the service.

Pallbearers will be Michael Lovejoy, Brad Whitley, Carson Whitley, Jason Craft, Charles Owens, Ed Longanacre, Ben Longanacre, and Keith Wickline.

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