Louis Long

Louis Powell LONG, age 94, died in Grand Rapids, MI on June 13, 2026 at Rest Haven Homes. He was born May 10, 1932 in Washington, D.C. to Marion Esther POWELL, born in Philadelphia, New York and Louis Charles LONG, born in San Vittore Olona, Italy and raised in Geneva, Switzerland. Louie is survived by his wife of 66 years, Elisabeth KNIBBE, born in Landsmeer, Netherlands. He was preceded in death by his parents and one grandson, David Pulfer. He is survived by his five children: Dorothy Pulfer (Marc), Lou Long (Katie), Renie Pittman (Todd), Esther Ratajeski (Kent), and Kathleen Comstock (Matthew), plus 14 grandchildren and very soon to be 6 great-grandchildren.

As an only child, Louie enjoyed the attention of his grandparents, aunts and uncles. After graduating from Central High School and then American University with a B.A. in Psychology, he joined the Navy, attended Officers’ Candidate School, and became a Russian translator, rising to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. Through an Officers’ Christian Union bible study in Japan, he decided to follow Christ. In 1958 at a retreat with others from the expatriate Christian community, he met his future wife, Elisabeth, then a governess at the Netherlands Embassy in Tokyo. They married April 9, 1960 and returned to the United States in 1961, after which Louis separated from the Navy to enroll in divinity school.

Graduating from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia in 1965, Louie and Elisabeth moved to Wurtemburg, PA where he pastored both the Wurtemburg and Ellport United Presbyterian Churches. In 1973, the family moved to White Oak, PA for a new job at Sampson’s Mills Presbyterian Church, where Louie served until retirement in 1997. He then volunteered at First Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, visiting the sick and elderly, teaching Sunday School, and serving on its Missions Committee. Over his years of ministry, Louie supported and encouraged several young men as they trained for pastoral ministry. With a keen appreciation of traditional music, Louie sang in the church choir and had season tickets to the Pittsburgh Symphony. Louie and Elisabeth together had a passion for the global church, hosting a constant stream of international visitors in their home. Louie supported Pittsburgh Region International Student Ministries (PRISM) for many years from its founding in 1983, and served as board chairman for some of those years.

Louie and Elisabeth moved to Hilliard, Ohio in 2019 and to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 2023.

A service will be held Sunday, June 28, 2026 at 2 PM at Rest Haven Homes, 1424 Union Ave NE, 49505. Private family interment will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suitland, MD.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to:

PRISM, https://www.prismpgh.org/ or

Westminster Theological Seminary, https://www.wts.edu/