George Delong Sr.

George Grant DeLong Sr. the son of Thomas and Clara (Beam) DeLong was born November 8, 1939 in Elverson, Pennsylvania and peacefully departed this life on February 19, 2019 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma at the age of 79 years, 2 months and 11 days, surrounded by his children, son-in law, and grandchildren.

Upon graduating from Twin Valley High School, in Morgantown, PA in 1958, George joined the United States Army, where he was stationed at Fort Reilly Kansas, with deployments overseas to Munich, Germany. After his Honorable Discharge from the Army in 1961, George worked for First National Bank, where he met Janice A. Piro (DeLong) - They married July 30, 1963 and were married for 39 years, till her death August 4, 2002. George worked various jobs till he was hired by IBM (International Business Machines) July of 1966, where till his retirement he worked as a Project Manager. During his life, George also served as a 1st SGT in the Army National Guard in Burlington, Vermont and in Tucson, Arizona until his retirement in January 1998 as a Master SGT.

George retired from IBM July, 1997 where he turned in, his business suits, for denim jeans, cowboy shirts, boots and a cowboy hat. The cowboy life was the life he truly loved and enjoyed. Affording him the opportunity to train horses he raised as yearlings, sharing his love of animals with family/friends u0026 especially his granddaughter, Harley. George loved going to rodeo's, riding his horses and being a part of the Tucson Rodeo Parade u0026 Rodeo Parade Committee, where he helped with preparation of the longest non-mechanized parade, worked diligently in the Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum giving tours to local visitors and elementary children during field trips. George loved his grandchildren, great grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with them when they visited. George touched many lives over the years and will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.

He was preceded in death by his parents Thomas and Clara DeLong; his wife Janice A. (Piro) DeLong, his grandson Joshua DeLong and his brother James DeLong, who passed away two weeks from the day, he did...

He is survived by a loving family which includes his children George DeLong Jr. of Van Buren, AR, Christopher DeLong and wife Christine of LaPort, TX, Michelle Ferranti and husband Edward of Pryor, OK, Eric DeLong of Seattle, WA and Jennifer DeLong of Loveland, CO; his brother Robert DeLong and wife Shirley of Leesburg, FL and his sister-in-law Audrey DeLong of Leesport, PA,; George has 10 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Several nieces, nephews who loved and adored their uncle, numerous friends and other relatives also survive him, as well as his 'Estranged' wife, Julie A. (Aranda) DeLong.

We will celebrate George's life with a memorial celebration on Saturday, March 16, 2019 at the American Legion Post 109 in the Hall/Dining Room(s) @ 15921 S. Houghton Road, Corona, Arizona 85641 from 5 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. There will be a small service first, with the celebration of Dad's life starting immediately afterwards. Food,non-alcoholic beverages will be available, as well as a cash bar u0026 lively music. Dad always enjoyed great company, good food, country music and a nice cold bud light beer. Please join us to celebrate his life.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation under our father's name to one of these organizations:

Alzheimer's Association: https://act.alz.org/site/Donation

Disabled American Veterans (DAV): https://www.dav.org/

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