Christopher L. Longfellow's Obituary
LONGFELLOW, Christopher L., age 53, of Lebanon and formerly of Ravenswood, WV, passed away Sunday, August 10, 2025, at the Atrium Medical Center.
Chris graduated from Ravenswood High School, class of 1989, where he was a member of the Chamber Singers (Show Choir). Upon graduation, he honorably served in the United States Air Force, serving a tour in Kuwait, during Desert Storm. After discharge, he continued to serve his community as a 911 dispatcher for Greene Central from 1997 to 2000 as well as a volunteer with Xenia Township Fire Department. He then decided he could serve his community more, by moving to the other side of the radio.
For the past 25 years, he has served as a Patrol Deputy for the Greene County Sheriff’s Office. During his years of dedicated service, Chris was part of the Drone Team for GCSO and was responsible for the partnership between The Dairy Station in Xenia and the sheriff department’s Cops with Cones program. With a passion toward helping others, Chris was instrumental in relocating the Air Force Junior ROTC (AFJROTC) Open Drill Championship to Dayton, and helped develop the Lebanon Show Choir Classic for high school show choir competitions. He was also a member of the Lebanon VFW Post #6069 and Lebanon Elks Lodge #422.
Chris had a service-minded personality with an old fashioned soul. Family-oriented, loving, chivalrous, outgoing, and everyone’s friend, Chris always put everyone before himself. He loved to sing, a passion he developed back in his show choir days during high school. Growing up in West Virginia, he was a lifelong WV Mountaineers fan. Somewhat spontaneously, Chris invited his son to join him for the Backyard Brawl between his beloved Mountaineers and their arch rival the Pitt Panthers; a three day trip with 50 yard line seats, which ultimately became one of their favorite memories together. In addition to the Mountaineers, he was a huge Cubs fan, which became a family passion passed down from his grandmother. In addition to spending his 40th birthday taking in the action at Wrigley Field, his daughter won an incredible trip awarded by American Airlines, complete with an all-access pass to Wrigley Field for her and her dad to enjoy together. The award granted them to be on the field, run the bases and catch fly balls, touch the famous ivy lining the outfield, and meet a couple of Chris’s favorite players - Steve Trout and Ryne Sandberg.
Always adventurous, Chris and his wife loved to go “Jeepin” together, usually with the doors and top off. Often without a planned destination, they would head out in the Jeep via the back roads, off-grid of cell connections, letting the destination develop as they drove, and almost always finding the best hole-in-the-wall diners along the way. Chris and Kris started dating when they were 14 years old, always finding ways to continue having dates regardless of life’s circumstances and age. Chris loved music, which was always playing in the house, often resulting in Chris dancing with his wife in the kitchen, a tradition that exhibited the romantic side he had for her since they first started dating. When they weren’t dancing in the kitchen and “Jeepin” the roads less traveled, Chris and Kris were usually enjoying “patio therapy” at Broadway Barrel House in Lebanon. In regards to how much Chris loved Kris, their relationship was often quoted, “There was no Kris without Chris!”
Always family-oriented, and a great family tradition, the Longfellow Clan would drive back to West Virginia to visit family and high school friends. The long drives would usually include a five-part harmony with them all singing together, although Chris’s youngest daughter has suggested that it was more like a 4.5 harmony, due to her singing in the key of Tara & not always hitting the right notes. Among many things, Chris will be remembered for his infectious giggle, his love of telling corny dad jokes, and the unique call sign given to him by his Sheriff’s Office shiftmates, “Wee Woo!”
He will also be remembered for the influence and leadership he had on people. Chris started the Challenge Coin program at the Sheriff’s office, which led to networking with other police and fire departments around the country and even the World. Starting as a military tradition, Chris wanted to share this with his police brothers and sisters. Trading has allowed him to obtain uniquely related coins and even patches from other departments when coins were not available. However, he will be remembered most for the love and care he had for his wife, children, grandchildren, and his community. Of course, he would not want anyone to forget that he was also proud of his granddogs, Zuko and Captain.
Chris was preceded in death by his dad, Jim Arnold; grandparents, Frederick Hughes and Mac and Margaret Arnold; and his mother-in-law, Pat Banfield. He is survived by his wife of nearly 35 years, Kristin “Kris”; three children, Patrik (Kaylin) Longfellow, Taylor (Kyle) Busey, and Tara Longfellow (Sean Vester); two grandchildren, Riley and Sammy; his mother, Patricia Ann (Richard) Weaver; his grandmother, Maxine Hughes; and his father-in-law, Lloyd Banfield.
The family will receive friends from 4 - 8 PM on Monday, August 18 at the Lighthouse Baptist Church in Xenia. The funeral service will be held at 11 AM on Tuesday at the church, followed by a procession and committal service at the Lebanon Cemetery.
Stubbs-Conner Funeral Home in Waynesville is serving the family. If desired, contributions may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, https://give.michaeljfox.org/; The Blue Line Foundation, https://thebluelinefoundation.org/; and/or The Shield Ohio, https://theshieldohio.com/. Condolences to the family may be made at www.stubbsconner.com.
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