Thomas Ross Long II, 88, of Saint Simons Island, GA died of natural causes on Friday, June 8, 2018. Tom Long, "Cap", as he was fondly known to family and friends, was born November 6, 1929 the youngest son of the late Alan C. Long & Dorothy C. Long. Tom graduated from Delaware High School in Delaware, OH and earned his undergraduate degree, Suma Cum Laude from Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware as well, class of 1951 before earning his PhD in Physics from Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, OH. He played Varsity football for Ohio Wesleyan alongside his two brothers and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and the Beta Theta Pi fraternities. Tom was the devoted and loving husband of his late wife, Helen "Simi" Long. Married for 63 years the two established and nurtured a strong foundation of family and friends in the communities they lived in from Bound Brook, NJ, Colts Neck, NJ, Worthington, OH, Alpharetta, GA and finally in Saint Simons Island, GA. Professionally, Tom Long, had a distinguished lifetime career with Bell Telephone Laboratories earning several patents and leading teams in both core Research and Development, Material Science, and finally in Fiber Optics research. He will be remembered for his engaging smile, twinkle in his eye and undying curiosity. He was always the first one that friends and extended family turned to when "something needed to be fixed" and he would do so without delay or hesitation. Always an "early adopter" of new technologies, Tom embraced personal computers, smart phones, tablets and any sort of electronic gadget. He spent a lifetime enjoying building and flying radio-controlled aircraft, and his other hobbies included golf, tennis and time with family. He inspired a love of travel among his children mapping out extended vacations to visit the entire continental United States and then travelling the world with his beloved wife and siblings in retirement. He was a cornerstone of our extended and close-knit family always eager to join in the various reunions and celebrations wherever planned. He was an active member of the Alpharetta United Methodist Church and served as President for several local recreational groups. Tom is survived by three children: T. Ross Long (Becky) of Alpharetta, GA; Lucy K. Long (Mike Boyle) of Saint Simons, GA; James S. Long (Molly) of Great Falls, VA; nine grandchildren: Blake Beavers, Erin Amideo, Brett Beavers, Katie Boyle, Ali Mansfield, Chris Boyle, Kelsey Beavers Mayo, Mary Long, Megan Long along with three great grandchildren: Kyle Amideo, Ellie Amideo, and Thomas Mayo. The memorial service for Thomas Long II will be held on July 21, 2018 at the Lovely Lane Chapel in Epworth on St. Simons Island, GA at 1pm ET In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that memorial donations be made out to The Wounded Warrior Project or the Salvation Army. Private memorial services will be held in Saint Simons Island, GA on July 21st at the Lovely Lane Chapel in Epworth.