Robert “Bob” Franklin Long, Jr., 69, of Savannah, died Saturday, September 21, while visiting family in his childhood hometown of Somerset, Kentucky.
Bob was born on October 17, 1943, in Paducah, KY, the son of Robert F. Long, Sr. and Elizabeth E. Long. He grew up in Somerset, KY and later married his high school sweetheart, Phyllis, also of Somerset. Bob and Phyllis recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in June.
Bob graduated college and medical school from the University of Kentucky. Following his medical school graduation, Bob moved to Savannah and was one of the first of two radiology residents with Memorial Medical Center. He practiced radiology with Memorial Medical Center for 37 years where he became a partner with Radiology Associates of Savannah and served as staff radiologist at Memorial Medical Center, Chief of the Nuclear Medicine Section and Chairman of the Department of Radiology. Bob considered his greatest professional achievement his mentoring of radiology residents and was frequently voted “Best Teacher” by his residents.
Although he was a native of Kentucky, Bob embraced the coastal lifestyle with a passion. He loved sailing and made several trips from Savannah to the Bahamas by sailboat. Bob also loved duck hunting and was a member of a conservation-minded duck hunting group. More recently, he enjoyed smoking his pipe and reading on his back porch overlooking the marsh. He and his wife, Phyllis, are members of St. James Catholic Church and were very involved with Our Lady of Good Hope Chapel on Isle of Hope.
Bob is preceded in death by an infant daughter, Anne Trayce Long and his father, Robert F. Long, Sr. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Long; his daughters, Jennifer L. Patterson and Mary L. Snowden; his sons, Robert F. Long III and James A. Long; his grandchildren, Phillip Patterson, Morgan Patterson, Elizabeth Snowden and Evangeline Long. He is also survived by his mother, Elizabeth Long; his siblings, David E. Long and Barbara L. Hughes; several nieces and nephews; and his two faithful dogs, Kansas and Max.
Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at Fox and Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel.
Mass of Christian
Burial will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, September 25, 2013 at St. James Catholic Church with Father Mark Ross officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105 or online at www.stjude.org.
Fox and Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel
Southern Oaks Funeral Home in charge of local arrangments