Rodney Long

Rodney Alan Long passed away at 12:37 PM on April 2nd, 2026, surrounded by those who loved and supported him through the hardship and heartbreak of early-onset Alzheimer's Disease.

A proud Texan, he was born in Houston on December 18th, 1964 to Louise Williamson (née Connelly) and Clifton Wayne Long at The Methodist Hospital Texas Medical Center.

As a child, he moved to South Carolina along with his brothers Gerald, David, and Bradford, as well as his mother, Louise. While there, he was a free-wheeling youth, as was common to the era. He loved to roam but also sought refuge in any place with pinball. There, he would animatedly challenge the pinball machine with sharp shakes and these little air kicks, as if they would influence the pinball’s trajectory and prevent him from spending his last quarter.

Rodney closely observed his older brothers and learned what he could. His brother, Gerald, challenged him to hone his mental acuity through chess matches and motivated him to study strategies from books authored by Grandmasters. Rodney admired the athleticism and bravery of his brother David and was inspired to try out bungee jumping after hearing of his skydiving adventures. When it came to his slightly older brother, Bradford, Rodney considered him his twin. He helped Rodney foster a love for playing and performing music while also sharing in the delight of the latest comedies. They developed a rapport consisting of nothing but comedic one-liners from their favorites. A language that could only be understood by the two of them.

Watching his big brothers bring their daughters into the world and our family filled him with joy. He spoke lovingly of his nieces, Julie, Emily, Allie, Abigail, and Madeline. His photo albums are filled with pictures of him holding them as newborns and the playful times at Edisto Beach, South Carolina.

He often drifted into nostalgia, sharing countless stories of his time within the Irmo community where he played soccer with passion and marched in the band with pride. All of this, he incorporated deeply, and with fondness, into his identity. To this day, every piece of memorabilia is safely stored among his most sentimental possessions.

After graduating from Irmo High School in 1982, he moved to Columbia, SC to attend the University of South Carolina where he studied at the College of Engineering. While there, he developed the ability to unleash the powerful crow of the Gamecocks while watching his alma mater compete in collegiate sports. It was a powerful sound that reverberated throughout the home, making his family laugh and smile until the day it was quieted by Alzheimer’s Disease.

While studying at USC, he started working at McDonald’s as a fry cook and a master burger flipper to make ends meet. During his time there, a formidable supervisor, relentless in her intent to make his job as difficult as possible, was actually doing her very best to hide a deepening infatuation, only to fail.

She became the love and light of his life. She never ceased encouraging him to venture beyond his comfort zones. She showed him, through her faith in him, the strength that was always there. This support allowed him to venture down paths where they found growth and enrichment, not only for themselves, but also their eventual children. He was a romantic and passionate man who always found the time to write her poems, send her flowers, and buy her chocolates.

Rodney proposed to Edna Long (née Vargas) after two months of dating. And on October 11th, 1985 in Columbia, SC, only 4 months after proposing, they were wed in the Columbia Courthouse where his dear brother, Brad, served as his best man.

Two years later, his first son, Rodney Alan Long Jr. was born on March 6th, 1987, just months before he earned his Bachelor of Science in Engineering from USC. He was quickly offered a computer engineering job by the Department of Defense at STRICOM in Research Parkway of Orlando, FL. And with that, the family relocated to the theme park capital of the country, if not the world, much to the benefit of his kids.

Yes, kids. Steven Douglas Long was born on December 28th, 1989, and quickly showed signs of his father’s intelligence and humor. He guided Steven into a love of technology and competitiveness when it came to games. He spent countless hours sitting on the carpet with Steven, playing all of their favorites. Everything from the original Super Mario on the NES to GoldenEye 007 on N64.

Again, always seeking a path for growth and enrichment in life, he moved his family to Mannheim, Germany in November of 2001. He drove his family through countless scenic countrysides while meandering through France, Switzerland, Austria, and Italy.

Upon his return to Orlando, FL in 2004, he watched his sons leave high school to pursue degrees and careers. He watched his eldest son graduate from the University of Central Florida in 2010 and his brilliant younger son graduate from Florida State University in 2012 with great pride.

Rodney earned his Master of Science degree in Industrial Engineering and Management Services on December 18th, 1999; a hard-earned gift to himself and his family for his 35th birthday. And in January of 2022, he retired from his role as a computer engineer for the Department of Defense after 35 years of service.

With that, he was free to spend every moment he could with his unwavering partner, Edna, for his remaining years. Once diagnosed, Rodney and Edna moved to Port Charlotte, FL where Hector and Michelle Vargas stood at the ready, only minutes away, willing to leap into action at a moment’s notice throughout the hardest times of his condition. Edna never took her eyes off of him and always sought to meet his every need.

When the end neared, the room filled with all of the love, support, and compassion that anyone could possibly ever want or need. Along with his wife and sons, Hector, Michelle, Jose, Sandy, and Pete ensured he was never alone.