Ethel Watkins Long, 86, passed away Wednesday, December 11, 2024, 2 days before the love of her life, John Ronald Long died.
She was a lifelong Peninsula resident. She graduated from Poquoson High School and was Miss Poquoson. From a young age she was creative and passionate about art. She made her living as a fashion illustrator for LaVogue and ended her career at Ft. Eustis as a graphic designer. Her creativity was shown in making costumes for her family and participating in local art shows.
She loved spending time with her family and friends at their cottage in the Outer Banks. Ethel was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church.
Ethel was preceded in death by her parents, William Watkins and Margaret Cooke and her siblings, Eddie, Frank and Joe Cooke, Joel Watkins, Dorothy Mann and Wilma Boone.
She is survived by her daughter, Karen Freidt (Wade) and her son, David Long (Shawn) all of Newport News; her 4 grandchildren, Jessica Gill (Raj), Rachel Freidt, David Nicholas Long and Benjamin Joseph Long; her brother, Johnny Cooke and her sisters, Carol Watkins, Billie Grigg and Becky Fox.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, December 19, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. – 12 Noon at Weymouth Funeral Home. Funeral Services for John and Ethel will be held together following the visitation at 12 Noon at the funeral home chapel by Rev. Tina Melusky with interment to follow in Peninsula Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association.
