Wilbert Henry Long of San Antonio, longtime Texas Baptist pastor, died Sept. 6. He was 93. He was born in Chatom, Ala., on Oct. 15, 1929, to Henry and Marvelle Long. After he graduated from Wayland Baptist College, he served two years in the U.S. Army. He earned his master’s degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary while serving churches in Denton. He held pastorates in Dallas and Groesbeck before being called to Northeast Baptist Church in San Antonio in 1964. He served there 30 years, retiring in 1994. When he retired, he joined the staff of San Antonio Baptist Association, where he served in many capacities. He also was senior adult camp director for Alto Frio Baptist Encampment. He was a trustee of the Baptist Memorial System nine years and served on the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board. He helped build churches in Alaska and San Antonio, and he participated in evangelistic crusades in Australia, Korea, Japan, Brazil and Canada. During his final years at Waterford Senior Living, he began a Bible study and a hymn sing for the residents. In 2000, he was chosen to receive the Winfred Moore Award for Lifetime Achievement in Ministry from Baylor University. He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years Patricia Ann Colwell Long and by his sister Phyllis June Francies. He is survived by son Mark A. Long, daughter Leigh Ann Whisler and her husband Chris, daughter Laura L. Roach and her husband John, 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
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