[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Pages 11380-11381]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     REMEMBERING VIRGINIA RUTH LONG

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, today I am privileged to honor Mrs. 
Virginia Ruth Long of Owsley County, KY. Mrs. Long, wife of Booneville 
mayor Charles Long, passed away at age 92 on March 27, 2012. A lifelong 
resident of Owsley County, Mrs. Long, a mother, beautician, and 
homemaker, was truly beloved by the Booneville community. It is with 
great respect that I recognize the First Lady of Booneville and her 
lifetime of commitment and service to Booneville and the people of her 
community.
  Mrs. Long was born in Indian Creek, KY, on October 1, 1919. She 
graduated from Owsley County High School in 1938. Upon her graduation, 
she attended cosmetology school in Lexington. After completing her 
schooling, Mrs. Long returned to her home, Owsley County, where she 
opened the first beauty shop in Booneville.
  In 1939, she married Charles Long. The two were married for 73 years 
and had two children: Charlotte and Charles Edwin. Mrs. Long not only 
raised her children and maintained the home but also worked for 62 
years in her beauty parlor. She quickly became a staple of Booneville, 
and many women in Owsley County recall her being the first person to 
ever style their hair professionally.
  Ruth's contributions to the Booneville community stemmed from running 
a business, raising a family, and playing a major role in her husband's 
public career. A World War II veteran and mayor of Booneville for 54 
years, Charles Long is no stranger to public service. Through the many 
years that Charles has served the Booneville community, Mrs. Long 
remained a constant partner to him and accompanied him on many trips he 
made as Booneville mayor.
  Though Ruth was a source of strength for her husband, Mr. and Mrs. 
Long equally relied upon one other. During one of Mr. Long's trips as 
Booneville mayor, Mrs. Long fell and broke her hip. Despite the demands 
of his public post, Mr. Long extended his trip by 3 weeks to help her 
recover from her injury. The couple was again tested in 2010 when their 
daughter, Charlotte, passed away. Though this tragic time was very 
difficult, as it would be for any parent who loses a child, Mr. and 
Mrs. Long's faith and reliance upon each other helped them to cope with 
such a great loss. Ultimately, Ruth was able to still find joy in her 
life through her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
  Apart from being loved by her family, Mrs. Long was beloved by the 
Owsley County community. She was a faithful member of the First 
Presbyterian Church of Booneville. She was also famed for having the 
best angel food cake in the county. However, more importantly, it was 
her warm, inviting nature that caused members of the community to come 
to love and admire Mrs. Long. An avid storyteller, she was a friend to 
all. After her death, many members of the community said they became 
better people by knowing Mrs. Long.
  I am honored to memorialize Ruth today as a lifetime servant of 
Owsley County. Without holding public office, she dutifully served her 
Booneville community through her devotion to her husband, Mayor Charles 
Long, and her life of friendship with its citizens. Kentuckians who 
live dedicated, humble lives of service like Mrs. Long are what make 
our Commonwealth strong. Today I ask my colleagues in the U.S. Senate 
to join me in remembering Mrs. Virginia Ruth Long, the First Lady of 
Booneville, KY.
  Mr. President, an article was recently published by the Booneville 
Sentinel, an Owsley County-area publication, recognizing the life of 
Mrs. Long. I ask unanimous consent that said article be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

              [From the Booneville Sentinel, May 10, 2012]

              Tribute for the ``First Lady of Booneville''

       Virginia Ruth Long was born in Indian Creek in Owsley 
     County on October 1, 1919. She later moved to Cow Creek, also 
     in Owsley County, where she went to school at Athlenia Grade 
     School. She graduated from Owsley County High School in 1938.
       Ruth attended beauty school in Lexington, Kentucky. After 
     graduating, she came back to Booneville, where she opened the 
     first beauty shop and worked until she retired at

[[Page 11381]]

     age 62. Even after Ruth retired, her previous clients would 
     talk about what a talented hairdresser she was. A lot of 
     women say that she was the first person who styled their 
     hair.
       She married in 1939 to Charles Long, who retired at age 62 
     also. There are three days difference in their ages. They 
     have been married for 73 years. Her husband Charles has been 
     mayor of Booneville for 54 years, and Ruth accompanied him on 
     many trips he made as mayor with the Kentucky River Area 
     Development District.
       They went to Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Washington D.C., and 
     many other meetings and events together. On one particular 
     trip to Salt Lake City, she fell in the Mormon Temple and 
     suffered a broken hip, where she and Charles stayed for 
     almost 3 weeks. Ruth always had many stories and had a way of 
     making them sound exciting. Ruth lived a life that most women 
     don't understand. When WWII started December 14, 1942, 
     Charles was called to active duty. Daughter Charlotte was 
     only 3 years old. Ruth had a son, Charles Edwin, on February 
     14, 1943. She cared for their home and children until he 
     returned home at the port in San Diego where she met him on 
     December 14, 1945. Ruth traveled to meet Charles whenever he 
     was close enough.
       Ruth said it kept her busy cooking and keeping Charles's 
     clothes clean. Ruth was always awfully proud of their two 
     children. Charlotte, their daughter, taught school for over 
     36 years in Owsley County until she passed away on April 8, 
     2010. Their son, Charles Edwin Long, has a barber shop in 
     Frankfort, Kentucky, where he lives. They have three 
     grandchildren, one deceased, and now they have five great-
     grandchildren that they loved to be with. I remember when 
     Charlotte passed that Ruth had said that a child should never 
     go on before the parent. This was a difficult time for both 
     Ruth and Charles, but they were there for each other as they 
     had been many other times over the years.
       Ruth has been a faithful member of the First Presbyterian 
     Church of Booneville for over 60 years and enjoyed going to 
     church to listen to Joe Powlas and to visit with friends 
     following. She had the name of having the best angel food 
     cake around. At all her dinners at home and away, they wanted 
     her to bring her angel food cake, and also her dressing at 
     Thanksgiving and Christmas.
       Ruth was 92 years old when she passed away in the morning 
     on March 27, 2012. She had been in the Owsley County Health 
     Care Center for over a year. She was a strong lady and was 
     always proud to say that she had led a very fulfilling and 
     happy life. Many people have expressed how she had touched 
     their lives just to offer her friendship. She will be greatly 
     missed by her friends and family greatly.

                          ____________________