RICHARD DeLONG
January 1, 1923 - December 26, 2014
Richard Orman DeLong, 91, beloved husband of 65 years to Lillian (Ketchum) DeLong, returned to his heavenly home on December 26, 2014.
Richard was born on January 1st, 1923, to the late Edwin Elmer DeLong and Clara M. (Woodard) DeLong who owned a dairy farm in Franklin, New York. From an early age, Richard was a hard worker, rising to do chores before the sun came up. The habits he developed as a child stayed with him through life - - he rose early, took pleasure in a hard day’s work and provided for his family. As an adult, he was immersed in the Christian community that would be his lifelong support.
A strong student, Richard excelled in mathematics and was a meticulous accountant who completed his first audit at the age of 16. In 1944, Richard entered the U.S. Army. He was stationed at Fort Benning, GA, during World War II and in Barstow, FL, during the Korean Conflict. In 1953 he entered the Internal Audit Division of the Comptroller Office stationed in Kaiserslautern, Germany. He entered the U.S. Civil Service in the Department of Air Force at Kelly Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX, in August of 1959, where he served until retirement in 1983.
Richard was the Lord’s servant at heart and joined the Texas Baptist Men Builders Association (Building for the Glory of God). He helped build more than one hundred churches throughout the state of Texas.
Richard was blessed with a large and loving family. He is survived by his wife, Lillian; his sons Dennis and Douglas DeLong; his daughter Donna (DeLong) Wolak; his grandchildren Robert DeLong, Andrea (DeLong) Morgan, Pamela (DeLong) Rothwell, Melinda (DeLong) Condon and Jeannette Wolak; and his many great-grandchildren.
His brothers Edwin and Francis; his parents; and his grandson, Edward Joseph Wolak III, precede him in death.
The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31, 2014. Services will be held at 2:00 PM EST on Wednesday, December 31, 2014, at Bevis Funeral Home in Tallahassee. Dr. Charles Fulton will officiate. Interment will follow at Oakland Cemetery.
Gifts in memory of Richard may be made to Covenant Hospice, 5041 N 12th Avenue, Pensacola, FL, 32504.