Ida Lucinda Wilson DeLong, of Elizabethton, loving wife of 55 years, left this world on Sunday, August 13, 2017, to be with our Heavenly Father.
Ida served the Lord in so many capacities from singing in the choir and director of both Children’s Church and WMU at Grace Baptist Church, Elizabethton, Tenn. She and her husband Paul served in the bus ministry and children’s worship for many years at Blue Creek Baptist Church in Jacksonville, N.C.
As a Christian mother she raised her two sons to love and serve the Lord. She carried her faith in service as an LPN and house parent for an emergency shelter for abused and neglected children, Jacksonville, N.C. She served also with child evangelism fellowship, good news clubs, children’s church, and house parent for the Christian Boys Home of Elizabethton, Tenn., and Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home, Johnson City, Tenn.
Ida is survived by her husband, Paul Anthony DeLong; two sons, Stephen “Pete” Paul DeLong and wife Annette, Jacksonville, N.C., and Wilbert “Willie” Jack DeLong and wife LaVerne, Holly Ridge, N.C.; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; three brothers, J.D. Wilson, Sumpter, S.C., Paul Wilson, Piney Flats, Tenn., and Benny Wilson and wife Linda, New Bern, N.C.; and many nieces and nephews.
Ida was preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Lucy Owens Wilson of Elizabethton, Tenn., and seven brothers and sisters.
The family wishes to extend a special “Thank You” to Emily, Debbie, Lori, Gail, Shane and everyone at Amedisys Hospice. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Children’s Program at Grace Baptist Church, 1114 Broad Street, Elizabethton, TN 37643.
Funeral services for Ida Lucinda Wilson DeLong will be conducted at 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 15, at Memorial Funeral Chapel with Rev. Travis Taylor and Rev. Ron Owens officiating. The graveside service and interment will be at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, August 16, at Mountain Home National Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, prior to the service. Active pallbearers, who are requested to assemble at the funeral home at 1 p.m. Wednesday, will be Derrick Ritter, Wade Ritter, P.J. DeLong, Zack Shepard, Zack Marlow and Jordan Lambert. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home at 1 p.m. Wednesday to go to the cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at our website at www.memorialfcelizabethton.com
Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the DeLong family.