Attica - Harold Raymond Long, 90, Attica, passed away in the Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, Williamsport, on Wednesday, July 20, 2022 at 5:15 a.m.
Harold was born in LaPorte, Indiana, on 27 October 1931, the son of the late Raymond and Anna (Heidke) Long. He was raised by his grandparents, John and Elizabeth (Mahon) Long on a farm near Fish Lake, Indiana and was a 1949 graduate of Mill Creek (LaPorte County) High School.
Harold was drafted into service from LaPorte and served with the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He received his basic training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, with the 511th AIR and then was transferred to Fort Bragg, North Carolina where he was a member of the 503rd Military Police Battalion, serving in the office of the Sergeant Major, S-1 and S-2. He attained the rank of Sergeant and was honorably discharged in October of 1954.
On 31 October 1954, Harold married Margaret Ann "Margie" Sovich in St. Mary's Greek Catholic Church, Monessen, Pennsylvania. A devoted wife and mother of nearly 50 years, she preceded him in death in December 2001.
Attending Indiana State University under the GI Bill, he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education, and the Master of Arts degree in administration and supervision from the university. He completed his sixth and seventh years of studies in related subjects.
He began his teaching career in Park School in LaPorte in 1957 and whose students many of whom he continued friendship. In 1961, he was invited to assume a position with Indiana State University in its Laboratory School where he had previously done his student teaching. Eventually he served as an assistant professor in elementary education and was administrative assistant to Dr. Harley Lautenschlager, the director of the school. In 1967, the Huron Valley Schools of Milford, Michigan employed him as an elementary teacher and principal of its junior high summer school.
He and his family returned to Indiana moving to Attica from Michigan in 1971 to assume the principalship of the Attica Elementary School, and from that assignment he retired in November 1992 a position he came to hold in great honor and whose students and their parents and its staff, he held in the highest esteem.
He served three terms as mayor of the City of Attica from 1988-2000 and was given the honor of swearing in his successor whom he supported. He was elected to the Attica School Board in 2008. After retirement from his profession, he was employed by the Attica Library and upon leaving that obligation as an employee, he continued to serve as one of its research volunteers. A member of the Fountain County Genealogy Society he currently served its mission in family research.
In faith he was a Roman Catholic and for nearly 50 years was a member of then Attica's St. Francis Xavier; in practice he was ecumenical. He was a member of the American Legion Post 52 and a former member of the Phi Delta Kappa and Knights of Columbus.
He was active in many civic organizations, including ASK at the time of its inception and for a number of years served in various offices of Potatwatomi Festival. He served as a member and president of Community Action and was a charter member of Fountain County Community Corrections and a member of the board of Area IV. He served on the Community Hospital Board.
In 1989, in one of his first acts as mayor, he founded the Attica Foundation which he considered a major achievement of his administration because it perpetually demonstrates a faith in the future of the City and its people. He initially appointed 21 of Attica's leading citizens to the committee which later affiliated with the Western Indiana Community Foundation on whose board he later served.
He was named Attica's Citizen of the year in 1981. In September 2001, Mayor Deon Swift named Long Avenue in his honor. Mr. Long was a member of the Indiana Retired Teachers Association and held offices in both local and state organizations.
Surviving are four sons, Douglas Long (wife, Susan) of Goshen, Indiana; Stephen Long (wife-Jan) of Greencastle; Dr. Timothy Long (wife-Nancy) of Muncie, and Robert Long (wife-Eileen) of Dunedin, Florida. Also surviving are ten grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren; two brothers, John and Francis. He was preceded in death by two sisters and four brothers.
After retirement, Mr. Long substitute taught in schools in Warren and Tippecanoe County. He self-published five books all dealing with newspaper events in the history of Fountain and Warren County and the development of the City of Attica.
Friends may call at the Maus Funeral Home, Attica on Tuesday, July 26th, from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. with a Rosary Service being recited at 3:45 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church on Wednesday, July 27th, at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. David Rasner officiating. Burial with military honors will be held in the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Cemetery, Attica. Memorial contributions may be made to Masses, Attica Community Foundation or the Alzheimers Foundation.

Services will be live streamed by going to fountain county area catholics facebook page.