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Dr William Murray Longhurst

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Dr William Murray Longhurst

Birth
Oakland, Alameda County, California, USA
Death
26 Sep 2018 (aged 100)
Sutherlin, Douglas County, Oregon, USA
Burial
Napa, Napa County, California, USA GPS-Latitude: 38.2996593, Longitude: -122.2727978
Plot
Garden mausoleum 4
Memorial ID
View Source
PARENTS: Murray Longhurst & Ruth Berg.

Murray Longhurst, b. 17 Sept 1887, Cedar City, Iron Co., Utah; d. 14 Sept. 1981, Napa, Napa Co., CA. Cedar City was listed on Bill's marriage record. However, Garden City, Rich Co., Utah is what Murray listed as his birth place in the World War I draft registration form which he signed on June 5, 1917 in Battle Ground Prec., Custer Co., Idaho; Murray was married, was a rancher & stockraiser & resided in Mackay, Custer Co., Idaho.

Ruth Berg, b. 18 March 1889, Eureka, Eureka Co., Nevada; d. 14 March 1974, Napa, Napa Co., CA.

PATERNAL GRANDPARENTS: Charles Thomas Longhurst & Charlotte Vilate Davis.

Charles, b. 19 Jan 1855, England; d. Aug 1937, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Charles & Charlotte are buried at Bountiful Memorial Park, Bountiful, Davis Co., Utah; Memorial 39909274.

MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS: Aron Berg & Rosa Frank.
(Rosa's father was Bernard D. Frank, b. 1821, Russia) Aron & Rosa are buried at Hills of Eternity Memorial Park, Colma, San Mateo Co., CA; Memorial 127248312.

**************
Bill Longhurst passed away at home in Sutherlin, Oregon on September 26, 2018, at the age of 100. He was born in 1917, in Oakland, California, to Murray Longhurst and Ruth Berg Longhurst. His family had a home there and he spent much of his childhood there as well as at the family's cattle and sheep ranch [the Elkhorn Ranch] in Mackay, Idaho. The family sold the ranch in Idaho, and purchased a ranch in Napa, California, in the 1920s.

Bill attended [elementary school and] Napa High School, and after graduating from high school, he attended Stanford University, receiving his bachelor's degree in biology, and then attended University of California in Berkeley, receiving his master's degree in Zoology in 1940. During his time at UC Berkeley, he met his future wife Virginia [Lee] Davidson, also a student at UC Berkeley, and they married in 1940. He was then awarded a scholarship to attend Cornell University in New York and in 1942, earned his doctorate in zoology at the age of 24.

In the summer of 1942, Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was called to active duty in February 1943. In March of 1944, he qualified for his silver wings and 2nd Lt.'s bars. Shortly after D-Day in Europe, after just three weeks checkout training in P-38's, he went overseas. In September of 1944, Bill was assigned to the 429th Fighter Squadron, 474th Fighter Group in France and Belgium. On his 17th mission, on Christmas Day, he was shot down by ground fire, bellied his plane in the forest, and though significantly injured, made his way back through German lines 20 miles to his squadron. By the end of WW II, Bill had flown 62 combat missions. In 1945, Bill was released from active duty.

He then joined the staff at UC Berkeley, and later the staff at UC Davis as a wildlife biologist. While employed with UC Davis, Bill lived in Hopland, CA, and was the resident biologist at the UC Hopland Field station. He was well known for his studies on wildlife, and range land practices. His studies eventually took him to East Africa, where he enjoyed many year-long sabbaticals, doing research on ruminants in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. His family, wife Virginia, and children, Caroline, John, and Marguerite (Maggie) were able to accompany him on his safaris to Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Sudan. Bill was a consummate outdoorsman, enjoying hunting and fishing in both the US, Canada and in Africa.

Bill retired from the University of California in 1980, and moved to [a ranch in] Roseburg, Oregon. His wife Virginia predeceased him in 1983, and in 1991, he married Florence Jewel Young.

He was predeceased by Jewel in June 2018. His son, John Longhurst, and daughter-in law, Cherril Young Longhurst, also predeceased Bill in February 2018.

Bill is survived by his daughter Caroline Merrick in Georgia; and daughter Maggie Cole in Oregon; and by five grandchildren, Christopher Longhurst (Emily), Dana Holve (Matt), Jennifer Cretu (Pete), Jeffrey Cole (Gabrielle), and Brian Cole (Lynnette). He is also survived by six great-grandchildren.

Bill requested that there be no funeral. Instead there will be a memorial gathering in the future, which date has yet to be determined. He will be interred at Tulocay Cemetery in Napa, CA, next to his first wife Virginia, and other family members.

(Obit published in the Roseburg, OR "The News-Review" on Oct. 2, 2018.)

Note that items in brackets [ ] were posted to his obit published in the "Napa Valley Register," October 3, 2018. Otherwise, the obits were identical.

Notes: His father was b. Cedar City, Iron Co., Utah. His mother was b. Ruby Hill, Eureka Co., Nevada, now a ghost town. It originally was a mining town named after "ruby silver", a type of ore.

Brother David Longhurst, b. & d. 30 Aug. 1919, Chilly, Custer Co., Idaho. He was premature. His DC shows he was buried in San Francisco, CA.

1930 U.S. Census for Carneras Twp, Napa, Napa Co., CA:
Murray Longhurst Head M 41 Idaho
Ruth Longhurst Wife F 38 Nevada
Grant Longhurst Brother M 44 Idaho
William Longhurst Son M 12 California

Note that Murray was actually born in Utah. His father was b. England; his mother in Utah. Murray was a farmer. Grant Longhurst, b. 8 Aug 1885, Utah; d. 17 Jan 1955, Placerville, El Dorado Co., CA. Grant & his wife are buried at Placerville Union Cemetery, Placerville, CA; Memorial 43142549.

1940 U.S. Census for Napa Twp, Napa Co., CA:
Murray Longhurst Head M 51 Utah
Ruth B Longhurst Wife F 48 Nevada
Blanche Mullett Servant F 55 Ohio

They resided in the same house in 1935. Murray is a farmer. Blanche is single & works as a cook for a private family. Note that Ruth's sister Gertrude Berg, single, resides next door. Gertrude T. Berg, b. 6 Sept 1878, Nev.; d. 24 Jan 1968, Napa, CA. Burial unknown. Their mother's maiden name was "Frank".

Father Murray Longhurst m. Nellie Williams Varney 29 Mar 1975, San Francisco, CA.

Uncle William Meyer Berg (mother's brother), b. 29 Mar 1876, Nev.; d. 31 Oct 1948, San Francisco, CA. He is buried at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park, Colma, San Mateo Co., CA; Memorial 87566707. By 12 August 1898, William resided & voted in Alameda, Alameda Co., CA. In 1939, William & his wife Irene, along w/sister Gertrude traveled to Honolulu on the S.S. Lurline, First Class.

*Lt. William Longhurst, son of Mr. and Mrs. Murray Longhurst, has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his exploits over Belgium last December. He was shot down behind the German lines but escaped to bring vital information on German installation and forces.
(Excerpted from "In Days Gone By" dated May 14, 1945, published in the Napa, CA "Napa Valley Register" on May 14, 1970.)

*Mr. and Mrs. William Longhurst are parents of their first son born March 18 at the Parks Victory Hospital. He has been named John Charles and is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Murray Longhurst.
(Excerpted from "In Days Gone By" dated March 22, 1947, published in the Napa, CA "Napa Valley Register" on March, 1972.)

*Thanks to "Connie" for providing these items.
PARENTS: Murray Longhurst & Ruth Berg.

Murray Longhurst, b. 17 Sept 1887, Cedar City, Iron Co., Utah; d. 14 Sept. 1981, Napa, Napa Co., CA. Cedar City was listed on Bill's marriage record. However, Garden City, Rich Co., Utah is what Murray listed as his birth place in the World War I draft registration form which he signed on June 5, 1917 in Battle Ground Prec., Custer Co., Idaho; Murray was married, was a rancher & stockraiser & resided in Mackay, Custer Co., Idaho.

Ruth Berg, b. 18 March 1889, Eureka, Eureka Co., Nevada; d. 14 March 1974, Napa, Napa Co., CA.

PATERNAL GRANDPARENTS: Charles Thomas Longhurst & Charlotte Vilate Davis.

Charles, b. 19 Jan 1855, England; d. Aug 1937, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Charles & Charlotte are buried at Bountiful Memorial Park, Bountiful, Davis Co., Utah; Memorial 39909274.

MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS: Aron Berg & Rosa Frank.
(Rosa's father was Bernard D. Frank, b. 1821, Russia) Aron & Rosa are buried at Hills of Eternity Memorial Park, Colma, San Mateo Co., CA; Memorial 127248312.

**************
Bill Longhurst passed away at home in Sutherlin, Oregon on September 26, 2018, at the age of 100. He was born in 1917, in Oakland, California, to Murray Longhurst and Ruth Berg Longhurst. His family had a home there and he spent much of his childhood there as well as at the family's cattle and sheep ranch [the Elkhorn Ranch] in Mackay, Idaho. The family sold the ranch in Idaho, and purchased a ranch in Napa, California, in the 1920s.

Bill attended [elementary school and] Napa High School, and after graduating from high school, he attended Stanford University, receiving his bachelor's degree in biology, and then attended University of California in Berkeley, receiving his master's degree in Zoology in 1940. During his time at UC Berkeley, he met his future wife Virginia [Lee] Davidson, also a student at UC Berkeley, and they married in 1940. He was then awarded a scholarship to attend Cornell University in New York and in 1942, earned his doctorate in zoology at the age of 24.

In the summer of 1942, Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was called to active duty in February 1943. In March of 1944, he qualified for his silver wings and 2nd Lt.'s bars. Shortly after D-Day in Europe, after just three weeks checkout training in P-38's, he went overseas. In September of 1944, Bill was assigned to the 429th Fighter Squadron, 474th Fighter Group in France and Belgium. On his 17th mission, on Christmas Day, he was shot down by ground fire, bellied his plane in the forest, and though significantly injured, made his way back through German lines 20 miles to his squadron. By the end of WW II, Bill had flown 62 combat missions. In 1945, Bill was released from active duty.

He then joined the staff at UC Berkeley, and later the staff at UC Davis as a wildlife biologist. While employed with UC Davis, Bill lived in Hopland, CA, and was the resident biologist at the UC Hopland Field station. He was well known for his studies on wildlife, and range land practices. His studies eventually took him to East Africa, where he enjoyed many year-long sabbaticals, doing research on ruminants in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. His family, wife Virginia, and children, Caroline, John, and Marguerite (Maggie) were able to accompany him on his safaris to Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Sudan. Bill was a consummate outdoorsman, enjoying hunting and fishing in both the US, Canada and in Africa.

Bill retired from the University of California in 1980, and moved to [a ranch in] Roseburg, Oregon. His wife Virginia predeceased him in 1983, and in 1991, he married Florence Jewel Young.

He was predeceased by Jewel in June 2018. His son, John Longhurst, and daughter-in law, Cherril Young Longhurst, also predeceased Bill in February 2018.

Bill is survived by his daughter Caroline Merrick in Georgia; and daughter Maggie Cole in Oregon; and by five grandchildren, Christopher Longhurst (Emily), Dana Holve (Matt), Jennifer Cretu (Pete), Jeffrey Cole (Gabrielle), and Brian Cole (Lynnette). He is also survived by six great-grandchildren.

Bill requested that there be no funeral. Instead there will be a memorial gathering in the future, which date has yet to be determined. He will be interred at Tulocay Cemetery in Napa, CA, next to his first wife Virginia, and other family members.

(Obit published in the Roseburg, OR "The News-Review" on Oct. 2, 2018.)

Note that items in brackets [ ] were posted to his obit published in the "Napa Valley Register," October 3, 2018. Otherwise, the obits were identical.

Notes: His father was b. Cedar City, Iron Co., Utah. His mother was b. Ruby Hill, Eureka Co., Nevada, now a ghost town. It originally was a mining town named after "ruby silver", a type of ore.

Brother David Longhurst, b. & d. 30 Aug. 1919, Chilly, Custer Co., Idaho. He was premature. His DC shows he was buried in San Francisco, CA.

1930 U.S. Census for Carneras Twp, Napa, Napa Co., CA:
Murray Longhurst Head M 41 Idaho
Ruth Longhurst Wife F 38 Nevada
Grant Longhurst Brother M 44 Idaho
William Longhurst Son M 12 California

Note that Murray was actually born in Utah. His father was b. England; his mother in Utah. Murray was a farmer. Grant Longhurst, b. 8 Aug 1885, Utah; d. 17 Jan 1955, Placerville, El Dorado Co., CA. Grant & his wife are buried at Placerville Union Cemetery, Placerville, CA; Memorial 43142549.

1940 U.S. Census for Napa Twp, Napa Co., CA:
Murray Longhurst Head M 51 Utah
Ruth B Longhurst Wife F 48 Nevada
Blanche Mullett Servant F 55 Ohio

They resided in the same house in 1935. Murray is a farmer. Blanche is single & works as a cook for a private family. Note that Ruth's sister Gertrude Berg, single, resides next door. Gertrude T. Berg, b. 6 Sept 1878, Nev.; d. 24 Jan 1968, Napa, CA. Burial unknown. Their mother's maiden name was "Frank".

Father Murray Longhurst m. Nellie Williams Varney 29 Mar 1975, San Francisco, CA.

Uncle William Meyer Berg (mother's brother), b. 29 Mar 1876, Nev.; d. 31 Oct 1948, San Francisco, CA. He is buried at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park, Colma, San Mateo Co., CA; Memorial 87566707. By 12 August 1898, William resided & voted in Alameda, Alameda Co., CA. In 1939, William & his wife Irene, along w/sister Gertrude traveled to Honolulu on the S.S. Lurline, First Class.

*Lt. William Longhurst, son of Mr. and Mrs. Murray Longhurst, has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his exploits over Belgium last December. He was shot down behind the German lines but escaped to bring vital information on German installation and forces.
(Excerpted from "In Days Gone By" dated May 14, 1945, published in the Napa, CA "Napa Valley Register" on May 14, 1970.)

*Mr. and Mrs. William Longhurst are parents of their first son born March 18 at the Parks Victory Hospital. He has been named John Charles and is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Murray Longhurst.
(Excerpted from "In Days Gone By" dated March 22, 1947, published in the Napa, CA "Napa Valley Register" on March, 1972.)

*Thanks to "Connie" for providing these items.


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