William Alexander “Bill” Longley, 96, of Herculaneum died April 23, 2024, at Crystal Oaks Nursing Home in Crystal City. Mr. Longley served in the U.S. Navy. He retired from Dow Chemical. He was a longtime member of the Second Baptist Church of Festus. Born Nov. 25, 1927, in Batesville, Ark., he was the son of the late Ruth (Dobson) and Nelson A. Longley. He was the stepson of the late Ernestine Longley.
He is survived by his wife: Catherine (Goodwin) Longley; five children: William (Lina) Longley of Pensacola, Fla., Grant Longley of French Village, Mark (Penney) Longley of Ste. Genevieve, Susan (the late Virgil) Owens of San Diego, Calif., and Rebecca (Bill) Venz of Festus; a brother-in-law: Ken (Sharon) Goodwin; a sister-in-law: Nancy Goodwin; 14 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and many other family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by two sisters: Leticia Stevens and Sarah McAuley; and a grandson: Brent Owens.
Visitation is scheduled from 10:30 a.m. until services at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, at Vinyard Funeral Home, 616 W Main, in Festus, officiated by the Rev. William Longley. Burial with full military honors will be in the National Cemetery at Jefferson Barracks. Memorials may be made to Living Springs Camp of Second Baptist Church or Mercy Hospice. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home.