The campus community mourns the passing of Shirley Longacre, who died on Monday, August 31. Shirley retired in 1988, as the secretary to the dean of Arts and Sciences, after 19 years at Bucknell.
She was born January 9, 1925, in Northumberland, the daughter of Robert L. and Mildred (Hassinger) Herman. On Jan. 9, 1946 she married John E. Longacre who preceded her in death on June 21, 2000.
Before coming to Bucknell, Shirley was employed as secretary to the supervising principal of Northumberland High School and secretary to the assistant superintendent of the Shikellamy School District. She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Northumberland, active in Girl Scouting and a member of the advisory board for the Northumberland Chapter of Rainbow Girls. She was a life member of Priestley Chapter 423, Order of Eastern Star, since 1943 and a charter member of Fort Augusta Court 127, Order of the Amaranth.
Surviving are one daughter, Linda Allamong, and one granddaughter, Courtney Allamong, of Williamsburg, VA; one brother and sister-in-law, Robert C. and Carolyn Herman, of Camp Hill, PA; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her son-in-law, Larry Allamong.
Visitors may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, September 11, at the Joseph W. Epler Funeral Home, 210 King St., Northumberland, where the funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 12, with her pastor, the Rev. Patricia Pittsnogle, officiating. Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery, Northumberland.
Contributions may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, 300 Queen Street, Northumberland, PA 17857, or the Priestley-Forsyth Memorial Library, King Street, Northumberland, PA 17857.
Members of the Bucknell Community are encouraged to visit our In Memoriam Site at bucknell.edu/InMemoriam and share personal notes of sympathy and remembrance with others.
On behalf of the entire Bucknell community, I extend our deepest sympathies to Shirley’s family, as well as to all who knew her at Bucknell.
– John
Rest in Peace, Shirley. What an inspiration you were! Always smiling, full of humorous anecdotes…when I saw you and Norma Jean walking together, now there was trouble. It was wonderful to see you returning to campus during your retirement years. I will always hold your smile in my heart. Condolences to your family and to all the friends you held dear. We will miss you.
Linda and family, words cannot tell you how much we all loved Shirley. I think of her often. I could never get over her telling us that she would awake during the night and read, but then come to work as chipper as always. She was truly an inspiration to all of us. Your memories of your sweet mother must now come back to you, even in your sorrow, and give you peace. Love to you Shirley.