Thomas DeLong

****Mr. DeLong's funeral service will be livestreamed at: https://youtube.com/live/rz59DxIwMq0?feature=share Tom DeLong, 80, passed away peacefully with family at home in Terrell on January 23, 2023. He was born in Saginaw, MI and is preceded in death by his baby brother Thomas A. DeLong, parents Harold and Mary Jane Burns DeLong and stepmother Frances Grimm DeLong. Survivors include brother James DeLong (Debbie) of CA, Mary J. Shiners (Mike) of AZ and nephews Erich (Brandy) Shiners, Trent DeLong, Troy (Jana) DeLong and two great nephews Brian Shiners and Carlo DeLong. He is also survived by his wife of 45 years Virginia DeLong of Terrell and sister-in-law Brenda LeBlanc of LA. and many other relatives and friends. He was a beloved member of the Rockwall and Brin Church of Christ in Terrell. Tom graduated from UC, Berkeley, CA with a B.S. in electrical engineering and spent several years with Pacific Gas and Electric in CA, Other career starts include project manager for Celanese Plastics and Specialties, Ford Bacon and Davis, Dallas, Standard Oil of CA and a short stay early in his career at Inland Steel of Indiana. He served as senior project manager at Charles T. Main in Charlotte where a Dupont manager reflected, “Tom was the best engineer I have ever worked with.” DeLong ended his career as project manager for Parsons in CA and spent several years in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Without a doubt Tom’s love of God drove him throughout his earthly existence. He was mentored during his college years by L. V. Pfeifer at the Berkeley Church of Christ where he met and became family with many lifelong friends. When he transferred to Dallas from CA Tom became active in the Preston Road Church of Christ and was a leader in the young adult professional group at that church. It was here he met his beloved wife Virginia Leatherwood and they were married on December 31, 1977. Because of his love for the Bible he took a sabbatical for a year and attended Harding Graduate School of Theology in Memphis. Following this Tom began work for Charles T. Main in Charlotte, NC. He and wife Virginia were very involved in the Providence Road Church of Christ there and he served on the Agape of NC Board. During her bus ministry service Virginia and Tom met the Watford family and became substitute grandparents for Karen, Heather and Justin Watford. Tom and Virginia attended the Baldwin Park Church of Christ in CA upon his transfer to Parsons Engineering in Pasadena. He taught and worked with that youth group and was privileged to have Justin Watford spend some time with them. After retirement the couple moved to Terrell where they have been active members at Rockwall and Brin Church of Christ. Tom served in the benevolent ministry at the Share Center and spent several years travelling to Zambia to help establish a school of preaching working with Kennedy Mukuka, graduate of Southwestern Christian College of Terrell and a native Zambian. Tom leaves behind countless touches of Christ to all who were privileged to love him. He loved Virginia’s nieces and nephews and their families and leaves a trail behind to follow. Services will be held at the Rockwall and Brin Church of Christ in Terrell on February 18 at 1 p.m. with visitation prior to the service at 12. The family asked in lieu of flowers those donations be given to the Share Center at the Rockwall and Brin Church of Christ, 407 N. Rockwall Street, Terrrell, TX 75160, the Riter C. Hulsey Public Library of Terrell or the Zambian mission effort led by Kennedy Mukuka (contact Steve Booker at bstevenbooker@gmail.com). Special thanks goes out to American Home Health Care and Alinea Hospice who allowed him to remain home in his final hours.

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Thomas DeLong

February 26, 1942 - January 23, 2023