Submitted by:
Nadine A. Hardin
Obituary name: Richard G. DeLong
Names mentioned: DeLong, Smith,
Smoker, Zehrung
Indiana; South Bend Tribune, Death Notices;
Wednesday, April 23, 2003.
OSCEOLA -- Richard G. DeLong, 84, of
Birch Road, died Monday in Fountainview Place Nursing Home,
Mishawaka. Survivors include his wife, Virginia J. (Smith);
a son, Thomas G. of Powhatan, Va.; and three daughters, Barbara
E. Bergen of Vandalia, Ann M. Smoker of
Noblesville, Ind., and Gena L. Zehrung of Osceola.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in First General
Baptist Church of Osceola, where friends may call one hour before
services. Chapel Hill Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Note: Richard G. DeLong is son to Orin A. and Edith (West) DeLong
Indiana: South Bend Tribune, Obituaries;
April 23, 2003.
Obituary: Richard G. DeLong
(Vital Statistics: 2003/04/23)
Richard G. DeLong, 84, of Birch Road, Osceola, Ind., passed away on Monday, April 21, in the Fountainview Place Nursing Home, Mishawaka, Ind. Richard was born on April 17, 1919, in South Bend, Ind., to Orin and Edith (West) DeLong, who have both preceded him in death.
Submitted by: Dan Rich (06/09/2007)
Richard G. DeLong
April 17, 1919 - April 21, 2003
South Bend Tribune 4/23/2003
Richard G. DeLong, 84, of Birch Road, Osceola, Ind., passed away on Monday, April 21, in the Fountainview Place Nursing Home, Mishawaka, Ind. Richard was born on April 17, 1919, in South Bend, Ind., to Orin and Edith (West) DeLong, who have both preceded him in death.
On Feb. 21, 1943, in Mishawaka, Richard married Virginia J. Smith. Richard leaves to cherish his memories his loving wife, Virginia; a son, Thomas G. (Diane) DeLong of Powhatan, Va.; daughters, Barbara E. Bergen of Vandalia, Mich., Ann M. Smoker of Noblesville, Ind., and Gena L. (Dennis) Zehrung of Osceola; his nine grandchildren, Terri, Dawn, Michael, Chris, all of Michigan, Beth and Jon of Virginia, Elizabeth and Robb of Indianapolis, Ind., and Luke of Osceola; and by eight great-grandchildren he will greatly miss.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 23, in the First General Baptist Church of Osceola, 11101 East McKinley Highway, Osceola, with visitation one hour before. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the First General Baptist Church of Osceola or to any veterans organization.
Richard served in the U.S. Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1945. He served in the Panama Canal in 1941. He graduated as a first lieutenant of Armored and Force Officer Training School, Fort Knox, Ky., served as a platoon leader at Camp Ibis, Calif., was a graduate of B-25 Bomber Fighter Pilot School, Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, Nev., where he trained Chinese cadets and achieved captain status. Richard returned to Indiana to build student housing at Notre Dame. He then continued his career at Kreamo Bakery for 20 years, at which time he managed Sportsman Center, Vandalia, Mich. He served as a retired reserve for 40 years and was a secretary of the South Bend IN Air Force Association. He was a charter member of Post #360 V.F.W., North Penn Fire Department, Michiana Male Chorus of South Bend. Richard was a member of Willow Creek Methodist Church and the First General Baptist Church of Osceola.