NameVictor Wilson DeLong
Birth9 Jul 1884, Topton, PA
Death14 Mar 1958, Allentown, PA
FatherTilghman DeLong (1849-1924)
MotherAngelina Fenstermacher (1855-1934)
Misc. Notes
Victor W. DeLong, creator and designer of many of the interiors of churches in the Lehigh Valley, died yesterday afternoon in the Allentown Osteopathic Hospital. He was 73. He had been ill a week. The family resided at 2204 Allen St., Allentown. DeLong was a partner in the DeLong, Lenski and DeLong Church Furniture Co., with offices in Allentown and Philadelphia. The renovating and decorating of churches was his lifetime interest. After the death of his father, Tilghman DeLong, who founded the business, Victor and his brother Ellwood continued to expand the concern. The partnership was formed about 10 years ago. Among the famous churches DeLong had decorated are Hotchiss Chapel, Lakeville, Conn.; Manliun Chapel, New York City; Sampson Naval Base Chapel, which was set up for Jewish, Protestant and Catholic worshipers; Syracuse University Chapel; Union College Chapel, Schenectady, N.Y., and New York Avenue Church, Washington D.C. Perhaps his most famous work was the Foundry Methodist Church, Washington D.C., where the late Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill often went to worship. Born in Topton, he was a son of the late Tilghman and Angelina (Fenstermacher) DeLong. DeLong was married to the former Laura Fisher. The couple celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary in February. Perhaps his most noteworthy works in the Allentown area are the Muhlenberg College Chapel and the Allentown Masonic Temple. He was a member of Salem United Church of Christ, Allentown, and the 19th Street Men's Bible Class, Allentown. Two years ago he received his 50-year award from the Huguenot Lodge, Kutztown. He was also a member of the Allentown Consistory and Tall Cedars of Lebanon; Emmaus Owls, Topton Fire Co., Ray A. Master American Legion Post No. 217, Topton, and the Keystone Fire Co., Allentown. Surviving with hsi wife are two daughters, Lulu, wife of Harry J. Borchers, Briarcliff, N.Y., and Anne, wife of Peter Ball, Fairfield, Conn., three grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, a sister Ada, wife of Milton Knauss, Catasauqua, and a brother, Ellwood, Philadelphia. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday in the Bachman Funeral Home, 1030 Walnut St., Allentown. (Death Notice on pg. 7: Buried at Grandview Cemetery, Allentown).
Spouses
1Laura Isabella Fisher
Birth8 Oct 1887, Berks Co., PA
Death14 Dec 1982, Fort Myers, FL
ChildrenAnna Fisher (1917-2007)