Thomas D. Long passed away Monday, October 29, 2018 at the Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis following a brief illness.  He was born to Gilbert and Denzil (Wicker) Long on the kitchen table in Carmel, Indiana on June 25, 1937.  He grew up in Carmel, attending “Old North” from kindergarten through his high school graduation.  He married a few years after graduation and joined the US Army a few years after that.  He loved his Country and was even asking if there was going to be anyway he would be able to vote from his hospital bed on election day.

Tom enjoyed motorcycles and all cars.  He bought his first car before he had his license, and according to his sister, would polish that car every single day and drive it up and down the driveway.  He would meticulously clean his vehicles – always hand washed – no carwashes.  His grandson Gabe bought a black Mustang a few years ago, and Grandpa Tom always teased that he was going to get one so they could both have one.  And he did just that!  Just this past year, he found a Mustang convertible that became his pride and joy.  He once said he had owned over 150 different vehicles during his lifetime (and that was just the cars and trucks).  He also loved to ride motorcycles, Harleys, Indians, and Honda Goldwings, but no “zip-splats.”  He would take motorcycle road trips often when he was younger.

He enjoyed travel and has been to Mexico and Jamaica.  His favorite place to be, when not in Indiana, was Florida.  He lived there several times during life.  Florida housed one of his other “toys” in the early 1980’s, a cabin cruiser boat that he had docked in Jupiter.  Even when he lived in Indiana, he would often spend colder weather down south in Florida.

Most importantly, he was a man of very strong faith who loved Christ, his savior.  Even during his illness, he talked about how much he was enjoying talking to his nurses and others about Jesus.

Tom is survived by two daughters, Janice (Tony) Owen and Kimbel (Gary) Clarkson, both of Frankton, Indiana; two sisters Marty (Carl) Comstock of Carmel, and Jeanne (Kevin) Burnett of Fort Wayne; five grandchildren Cassandra (Tyler) Knepp of Lapel, Catrina North of Louisville, KY, Clorissa England of Westfield, Greg Clarkson and Gabe Clarkson both of Frankton; three great grandchildren Owen and Evelyn Knepp and Avery England; and many dear friends and other family.

He will be interred in the Carmel Cemetery next to his infant son, Gregg Thomas, who passed away shortly after birth in 1960.  A memorial service will be held at Carmel Friends Church, 651 W. Main Avenue, Carmel, Indiana on November 10th, 2018 at 11am.  In lieu of flowers, contributions to Wish For Our Heroes (https://www.wishforourheroes.org) would be appreciated.