Eugene Clifford DeLong, 84, of Bath, died Jan. 1, 2025, at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg. He was the husband of the late Dawn (Kaufman) DeLong for 51 years.

Born in Lenhartsville, he was the son of the late Ruth DeLong.

He entered into the U.S. Army Infantry in 1960 and was a member of the 82nd Airborne, serving as a paratrooper.

He began employment at Lehigh Valley Dairy in 1963. He was hired by Allegheny Airlines as a customer service agent at the Allentown Bethlehem Easton (ABE) Airport in 1968 and worked for US Airways for 25 years until his retirement in 1993. He was employed by Houser Auctioneers for the last 32 years.

He was a member of Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua.

He was a member of Forks of the Delaware Bottle Club. He was the chapter leader of the Lehigh Valley Chapter of The Compassionate Friends for 20 years and assisted bereaved parents and family members as they navigated their way through their grief journeys. He was a Master Mason with Manoquesy Lodge 413 in Bath, Rajah Shrine, a former member of The Tin Lizzies and past president of the Bethlehem Shrine Club. He was a former member of the Fairview Cemetery Committee in Whitehall.

He is survived by a daughter, Jamie R.; and a sister-in law, Jill (Kaufman) Lichty of Mechanicsburg.

He was predeceased by a son, David Gene; and a half-brother, Donald.

There will be a visitation 5-7 p.m. Jan. 9 at the funeral home, 444 Pershing Blvd., Whitehall, 18052.

Contributions may be made directly to his family; make checks payable to Jamie R. DeLong and mail to the funeral home. Contributions can also be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, Office of Development, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607, or at lovetotherescue.org.

Arrangements were made by Gilbert Funeral Home Inc.