Richard (Rich) Longwill

Rich Longwill was a loving husband, father and grandfather who leaves behind an extensive family who will miss his presence in their lives.

| January 13, 2026 2:24 PM

Richard (Rich) Longwill passed away peacefully in his sleep Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, at the age of 77. He had been fighting a long battle with COPD.

He was born on Leap Day (Feb. 29), 1948, in Nampa, Idaho. Parents were W.R. (Bill) Longwill and Ethylene (Jean) Longwill. He moved with his family in 1954 to the Quincy Valley. He graduated from Quincy High School in 1966. He was a proud member of the first Quincy High School Basketball team to bring back a trophy from the State Tournament.

Rich spent nearly three years in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1970, with 18 months of that in sunny Vietnam.

He married his first wife, Marcia (Urwin,) in 1972, the mother of Greta and Seth.

Rich then graduated from J.M. Perry Institute in 1976 as an Electrician, plied his trade with Tobin Electric for four years before going to work for Grant County PUD at Wanapum and Priest Rapids Dams, where he tried to keep the cost of electricity low for friends in the county until he retired some 28 years later.

Married his second wife, Elke, in 2000. They made their home next to the number 12 Tee box at the Colockum Ridge Golf Course for years, and their DECK was known for its heckling and good-natured banter as golfers passed close by.

Rich enjoyed sports, traveling, hunting, cocktail hour with family and low-maintenance friends, reading, laughter, L.A. Dodgers (since 1955), coaching various sports teams, his grandkids and life in general. He was very proud of the youth teams that he was involved with and had warm relationships with the players over the years, and the fact that many went on to coach and pass on the love of the game to the next generation.

Rich was survived by his wife, Elke Longwill, daughter Greta (Brett) Hale of Spokane, Wash.; son Seth (April) Longwill of Quincy; stepdaughter Carmen Hall of Scottsdale, Ariz.; and stepson Darren (Tahni) Higashiyama of Ellensburg, Wash.; grandchildren Connor and Jackson Hale, Jagen and Gavin Longwill, twin granddaughters Allanah Longwill, Briellah Longwill, Spencer and Loren Hall; sister, Debbie (Thom) Meyer, Athol, Idaho; and niece Lori Saslow of Seattle.

He was preceded in death by his father, William R. (Bill) Longwill, mother Ethylene (Jean), brother Gary Longwill and granddaughter Alysha Hale.