William “Bill” Long OBITUARY

William “Bill” Long OBITUARY

William “Bill” Long Jr., born on May 16, 1944, passed away on December 2, 2025 after a battle with bone cancer in Medford, Oregon. His sister Claudette and niece Lisa were by his side.

He is survived by his sister Claudette, brother-in-law Dan, nephew David, niece Lisa, and nephew Dwayne.

Bill had many different paths that drew him through his journey in life. He became a member of a motorcycle club, he was a veteran in the Army where he trained, initially as a medic, however that was not his true calling.

There was a spark that drew him to electricity and he left his training as a medic for training as an electrician. When receiving his honorable discharge, he returned to his familiar surroundings of his youth, the San Jose area and joined the IBEW local 332. He spent 40 years in the IBEW, however this was not his passion. The ocean was where he felt most at home.

While working as an electrician, he spent half of the year in the bay area and the other half, during fishing season, in Crescent City, California. He bought a boat, brought it up to his standards, gained a commercial fishing license, and started his own business as a fisherman. He traveled back and forth for over 20 years, until he retired as an electrician and was on the water full time. Bill gained the respect of the “salty dogs” on the water quickly. His research regarding the boat, building crab pots, and generally, how to get things done was second to none. When someone was stumped on how to do something, everyone would say, “Go ask Bill, he knows how to do it!”

Bill was always willing to lend a hand to anyone, whether on the water or on land. To his friends he was very generous, giving away his knowledge, his expertise, 50 pounds of potatoes, or his cherished Sweet Meat Squash. Bill was eager to lend a helping hand to anyone who asked.

Bill will be missed by his family, his friends in San Jose, his friends in Crescent City, and even the “salty dogs” out on the ocean.

One of the things he said in the beginning of his battle was, “If I beat this thing, I want to go out and kill more fish.” I guess the fish are lucky he’s gone.