Obituary of Leona Appleton DeLong

Leona Appleton DeLong, 101 , of Peacock Lane, Fairmont, WV, passed away late Tuesday evening in her residence.   She was born August 6, 1916 in Old Forge, NY, daughter of the late Lyman M. and Grace Yerman Appleton.    She was preceded in death by her husband J. Edward DeLong in 2004, and by two sons, Douglas Arthur in 1952 and Lawrence Russell in 2016.   She and her husband had been married for 68 years.   She was a graduate of the Town of Webb High School in Old Forge, NY, Class of 1934 and of the Excelsior School of Business, Utica, NY in 1935.   She worked as a bookkeeper for her father’s business, “Fast Flame Gas” for many years.   Eventually she and her husband took over the business and operated it together until they retired to Fairmont, WV in 1988.   Leona was a member of Niccoll’s Memorial Presbyterian Church in Old Forge, NY and of First Presbyterian Church in Fairmont, WV.   She was a member of the Eastern Star for 80 years.   In Fairmont, she was active in the Women’s Club and organized their student writing contest for many years.   Leona was an avid lifelong learner, so she was an enthusiastic supporter of the Lifelong Learner Program of Fairmont State University.   She belonged to a Book Club and a Needle Arts Group sponsored by the Lifelong Learner Program.   She also was a member of the Garden Club and the Red Hats.   She loved crafts and needlework and created a steady stream of scarves, hats, and socks for her friends and family.   Leona was known for her beautiful embroideries, for which she won many prizes.   Many friends and family received gifts of the colorful beeswax candles that she made over the decades.   She is remembered for her ability to make friends wherever she went, her positive attitude, her generosity, and her love for books.   Leona is survived by her daughter, Constance, and husband, Dr. John I. Mosher of Albion, NY, and son James Edward Jr. of Fairmont, WV.   Also a daughter-in-law, Valerie St John of Green Valley, AZ, and former daughter-in-law, Dr. Sharon Hiltz of Fairmont, WV; beloved grandchildren, Jennifer Mosher (Robert Montione) of Schoharie, NY, Lisa Rodriguez of Winter Garden, FL, John (Kathleen) Mosher of Hopkinton, MA, Emily (Andy) Staryszak of Webster, NY, Douglas (Lora) DeLong of Centennial, CO, Peter (Julie) DeLong of Denver, CO, Molly DeLong of Fairmont, WV, Anna DeLong of Erie, PA, and Seth and Sadie DeLong of Green Valley, AZ;   great-grandchildren Alyson and Justin Montione, Alex and Daniel Rodriguez, Elizabeth and Laura Mosher, Bonnie DeLong, and Trevor and Leah DeLong.   Mrs. DeLong has chosen cremation services.   A memorial service for Leona will be held at a later date in First Presbyterian Church in Fairmont, WV.  The interment of the cremains in Riverview Cemetery, Old Forge, NY will also be held at a later date.  The family requests that memorial donations be made to First Presbyterian Church, 301 Jackson St., Fairmont, WV, 2655 or Niccoll’s Memorial Presbyterian Church, 228 Crosby Bld., Old Forge, NY, 13420.