Charles Douglass Longe- necker, Jr. of Tuckahoe, NJ died peacefully following a short illness in Somers Point, NJ on Saturday July 4, 2020 with family by his side.
Doug was born on August 1, 1930 in Somers Point, NJ, at Atlantic Shores Hospital and Sanitarium to Charles Douglass, Sr. and Pauline Hoffman Longenecker. He grew up, along with his younger sister Sonia, in the Douglass Candies confection business in Ocean City, NJ on Atlantic Avenue and later on the boardwalk. The family attended First Presbyterian Church in O.C. Doug graduated from Ocean City High School in 1948 where he played on the baseball team and was an active member of Boy Scout Troop 50 achieving the rank of Eagle Scout in 1947. Doug Sr. was an Army officer in WWI and Doug Jr. and his sister spent time identifying military aircraft in the skies above Peck’s Beach as youngsters.
Doug then attended Pennsylvania Military College (PMC), now Widener University, and graduated in 1953 with a BS degree in Economics with a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. Doug was editor in chief the school’s ROTC publication as well as photo editor of its yearbook. Stationed at Fort Benning, GA for basic infantry officer training, Doug’s 8th Regiment of the 1st Cavalry Division completed winter exercises at Mount Fuji, Japan. He then served nearly 2 years in the Korean War beginning in September 1953 and was a combined 30-year veteran of the active and active reserve Army corps, retiring with the rank of Major. Doug would later attend Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA for graduate school.
Several years later, Doug married Alyce Beth Clayton, Lancaster, PA, with whom he raised a son David and daughter Amy mainly at a “farmette” on Schoolhouse Road in Lan- caster, PA. Doug worked at RCA as an accountant, at Pitney Bowes and with A.L. Randall Company, Chicago, IL as a Fenton glassware and Hager pottery manufacturer’s representative from 1975 until his retirement.
Doug’s interests and hobbies were diverse and lifelong. He was an avid photographer, car and train buff, and a history and military enthusiast from an early age. Possibly his greatest interests as a kid were his beloved New York Giants baseball team and his favorite player Mel Ott.
In 1958 Doug purchased a 1952 MG TD which he lovingly maintained and operated until his death. His interest in photography continued throughout his life with many published photos to his credit in local newspapers.
Doug also enjoyed politics and was elected to the East Windsor Township, NJ Republican Commit- tee and later as a Council- man and Deputy Mayor, highlighted by performing numerous wedding ceremonies and serving on the Historic Preservation Commission of East Windsor Township.
In 1995, Doug met his partner Joyce on a historical building tour of Atlantic City. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Tuckahoe to be closer to her. They had many common interests and enjoyed traveling around the country, camping and visiting natural and historical sites. Doug spent many summers in Casco, ME with Joyce and her family over the years.
Doug was very active as a board member and for a time as president of the Historic Preservation Society of Upper Township, helping with the Gandy Farmstead and Friendship House preservations. He served on the Ocean City, NJ Historical Museum board for 1 1years and retired in 2018 from the latter as a Trustee Emeritus. Doug also served on the Cape May County, NJ Culture and Heritage Commission as liaison with the aforementioned historical preservation groups.
Doug’s lifelong love affair with planes, trains and automobiles led him to the Patcong Valley Model Railroad club and as the ticket puncher at the Tuckahoe Railroad station for holiday train trips to Richland and back. He was also a member of the New England MGTD Society and American Legion. Doug was a huge jazz and big band music fan and collector and attended numerous jazz festivals across the country including Newport, Montreal and New Orleans, many with Joyce at his side.
Doug is survived by former wife Beth Clayton Longenecker Herr, son David Longenecker and wife Lori (Keener) and grandchildren Andrew and Claire; daughter Amy Longenecker Muhlendorf and husband Kevin and grandson Benjamin; sister Sonia Anne Longenecker Forry, Tuckahoe, NJ, niece Anita (Forry) and husband David Lohin, Clarks Summit, PA; nephew Mitchell and wife Beth (Fairbanks) Forry, Elizabethtown, PA and their daughters Anna Forry and Elise Forry. Doug’s sister, niece, nephew, and grandnieces were an integral part of his family all of his life and they will greatly miss his love and humor.
Doug was preceded in death by the love of his life Joyce Rankin, Seaville, NJ and is survived by her children R. Scott Rankin, Newville, PA, Sue Rankin, Bernardsville, NJ, Steve Rankin, Quincy, MA, and Stacy Reddy, Somers Point, NJ. Doug was greatly respected as the family patriarch, and the Rankins lovingly cared for Doug in their homes during the last 2 months of his life.
Interment will occur at Bainbridge Cemetery, PA near the family homestead in a private service. A memorial service will be planned for mid-2021 in Upper Township, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Doug’s memory to:
– Ocean City Historical Museum (www.ocnjmuseum.org)
– Historical Preservation Society of Upper Township (www.uppertownship.org),
– Honor Flight (HonorFlight.org)
