RONALD THOMAS DeLONG

RONALD THOMAS DeLONG, 86, of Wapakoneta, Ohio, passed into eternity peacefully Monday, Aug. 29, 2022, 10:20 a.m., surrounded by family at Mercy Health- St. Rita's Medical Center, Lima, Ohio. Ron was passionate about his faith, his family and the agricultural community in this region. He was a pillar of strength wherever he served, and he has left a legacy to aspire to for those that survive him. He was strong, passionate, faith based, tough, resilient, loving and kind. He will be missed dearly. Born Aug. 9, 1936, in Lima, Ohio, he was a son of Thomas and Gladys (Spyker) DeLong of Cridersville. His sister, Janet Parcel survives and resides in Lima. After graduating from Shawnee High School in 1954 he started his own dairy, grain and hog operation in Allen County. It was then he met Deloris, his loving wife of 63 years. Ron and Dee were married on Dec. 7, 1957 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Cridersville. Dee survives and will continue to reside in Auglaize County. In 1963, Ron and Dee purchased an 80-acre farm between Wapak and Cridersville and have added acreage to it over the years. This farm has always been the place Ron called home. Ron augmented his farming with numerous other jobs. He was a welder at Baldwin Lima Hamilton, a feed sales representative at Landmark, Inc., a grain merchandiser at Auglaize County Farmers Co-op, the general manager for Garvey Elevators in Hastings, Neb., and the general manager for Allen County Co-op in New Haven, Ind. In 2001, Ron and Dee started Agri-Sales- an agricultural services company specializing in fertilizers and agricultural compounds designed with the purpose of improving farmers yields and profitability. They successfully ran the business for 18 years - selling it in 2019. They had a second company- Agri-Warehouse which will continue. Ron was also a lifelong active servant at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Cridersville and Emanuel Lutheran Church in New Haven, Ind. Ron served as elder, President of the congregation, Sunday school superintendent, church council chairman, choir member and softball team member throughout his life. Ron played softball at St. Matthew for over four decades. He also was a member of numerous professional organizations and was particularly fond of 4-H and FFA. He was a passionate youth baseball coach and was personally responsible for Wapak's first traveling baseball youth team from 1977 to 1978. Ron is survived by wife, Deloris; a son, Chris Allan (Karol Ann) DeLong of Nashville, Tenn.; a daughter, Vicki DeLong (Brad) Rivers of Benton, Ky.; four grandchildren, three step grandchildren, and a great granddaughter. Funeral service is 3 p.m. Friday at Emanuel Lutheran Church, 800 Green St., New Haven (IN 467740, where family will receive friends from 1 to 3 p.m. Pastor Scott Zeckzer officiating. Family will also receive friends from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Bayliff & Son Funeral Home, Cridersville, Ohio, with a short service to follow. Graveside services and burial will be in St. Matthew Cemetery near Cridersville with Pastor Scott Zeckzer officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The New Haven Food Bank, 800 Green St., New Haven, IN 46774. Online condolences may be shared at BayliffAndSon.com