Henry Long

Henry Long, 79, of Indianapolis, Indiana, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on January 23, 2026. He was born on June 16, 1946, in Indianapolis, the son of Frances Sophia Bick (Hilsmeyer).

Henry grew up in Indianapolis and graduated from Thomas Carr Howe High School in 1965. Shortly after graduation, he was drafted into the United States Army and served during the Vietnam War from 1966 to 1968. Following his military service, Henry worked several factory jobs, with his longest career spent building diesel engines at International Harvester on the east side of Indianapolis. After more than 30 years of service, he retired and shifted his focus to real estate investments, a venture he approached with the same determination and spontaneity that defined much of his life. Henry lived life on his own terms, without concern for what others thought. A natural trendsetter, he loved to stand out and always welcomed others to join him. People were drawn to his bold personality and sense of adventure, often eager to learn more about him and be part of whatever he was up to. Not much of a planner, Henry often flew by the seat of his pants, quickly organizing spontaneous road trips where something inevitably went wrong with a vehicle or trailer – he just never knew when or where. Once the problem was handled and he was back on the road, the trip would always turn out to be just as fun, and certainly more memorable. A true people person, Henry had a gift for connecting with others and an unmatched ability to negotiate, making sure he never left anywhere without the best deal possible. He had a lifelong love of cars, especially custom cars, classics, and street rods. He owned two custom Cadillacs, a 1948 and a 1949, both acquired using his legendary negotiating skills. Henry frequently attended car shows and won the majority of those he entered. Sports were another passion throughout his life. Henry always loved basketball – from playing with neighborhood kids as a child, to organizing driveway court tournaments as an adult, to watching games on his big flat-screen TV at home in his later years. He was a devoted fan of the Indiana Pacers and the Indianapolis Colts. Most recently, he attended a Colts game with his daughter, where they had the special opportunity to hold the American flag on the field during the National Anthem. Henry also took pride in teaching his children about sports, whether watching or playing, and coached basketball and Little League baseball for his sons. Above all, Henry was a generous man who strived to help others whenever he could.

Henry is survived by his sister, Patricia Hawkins; children, Christopher Long, Michael Long, and Gabrielle Long; and his grandchildren, Saxon Long and Bodi Long.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Frances Bick, and sister, Susan Whiteis.

Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at Flanner Buchanan – Carmel, 325 East Carmel Drive, Carmel, Indiana 46032, with a funeral service immediately following at 1:00 p.m. Burial will take place at Our Lady of Peace Cemetery.

Memorial contributions in Henry’s name may be made to the American Lung Association.