Billie “Dean” DeLong of Traverse City, MI passed away on November 3, 2023 at the age of 98.
He was born in Wren, Ohio to Sarah Isabelle (Conkle) and Clyde Cleo DeLong on March 6, 1925. The family lived in New Albany before moving to Center Village, OH where his father was the Superintendent of Harlem Schools. In 1930, Dean’s family began spending their summers at Perrin’s Landing where they enjoyed fishing and boating on Lake Leelanau.
Dean entered the Air Force in 1943 to serve in WWII. He completed a full tour of duty which included flying 35 missions over Germany. He was a radio gunner on a B-17 aircraft with the 401st Bomb Group until honorably discharged in 1945. Following the war, Dean attended Otterbein College where he played basketball and was an active member in the Phi Delta Kappa Fraternity. He remained a proud supporter of Otterbein College throughout his life.
