Lambert “Dink” Venson DeLong was born on October 21, 1929, in the Cedar Grove Community of Van Buren County, Tennessee. With his characteristic sense of humor, Lambert often joked that he had personally started the Great Depression.
On April 9, 2026, Lambert experienced a massive brain aneurysm and passed away peacefully and without pain at the age of 96. At the time of his passing, he was surrounded by his wife, his mother-in-law, and all of his children, who were with him both in person and through FaceTime.
Lambert was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Lauster DeLong; his parents, Arzie and Cleo (Hitchcock) DeLong; his older sister, Mevolyn Haston; and his younger sisters, Genevieve Bouldin, Glenda Hale, and Cleta Bouldin. He was also preceded in death by his brothers-in-law, James Robert Haston, Clifford Bouldin, and Mack Palmer, and his niece, Angela Haston.
He is survived by his wife, Carol Jones DeLong; his five children, Esther DeLong Mueller of Germany; Samuel (Carol) DeLong of Nicholasville, Kentucky; Andrew (Kimberly) DeLong of Naples, Florida; Michael (Dana) DeLong of Naples, Florida; and Silvia DeLong of Virginia. He leaves behind 13 grandchildren, their spouses, and 15 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his youngest—and only surviving—brother, Charles (Carolyn) DeLong of McMinnville, Tennessee, and his brothers-in-law, Carl E. Bouldin of McMinnville, and Willis Hale of Merritt Island, Florida.
In the summer of 1951, Lambert married Mary Lauster, and together they traveled to Germany as a young missionary couple. At only 21 years of age, Lambert immersed himself wholeheartedly in the German language and culture. His dedication was extraordinary. In less than two years, he was pastoring three churches and preaching more than 30 sermons each month in German. Those who knew him often remarked that Lambert possessed a command of the German language that surpassed even that of many native speakers of the various German dialects.\
After years of pastoral ministry and service as President of the German Bible School, Lambert was appointed Overseer of the Church of God in Germany, a position he held from 1963 to 1974. In that role, he supervised more than 60 local congregations and their pastors.
Because of the tenure limitations placed on foreign missionaries, the DeLong family packed up their entire household in 1974 and returned to the United States. Lambert was assigned to pastor a church in Somerset, Kentucky. In less than a year and a half, he helped the church experience significant growth and played an important role in establishing a new church plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
In 1976, Lambert and Mary returned to Europe, leaving Sam and Andrew behind in the United States, and moved closer to their oldest daughter, Esther, and her family. Back in Germany, Lambert began serving as Superintendent of the Churches of God throughout Europe and the Middle East.
Throughout his ministry, Lambert was always looking for creative opportunities to advance the Kingdom of God. He considered it one of his greatest privileges to minister behind the Iron Curtain, traveling to countries including Yugoslavia, Romania, and Bulgaria. His courage, determination, and willingness to go wherever he believed he was needed became hallmarks of his life and ministry.
Above all, Lambert will be remembered not only for the places he served and the work he accomplished, but for the life he lived with courage, humor, faith, curiosity, and an unwavering willingness to help others. He leaves behind a legacy carried forward through his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and the many lives he touched throughout his years of ministry and service.
A celebration of Lambert’s life was held with family and friends on April 25, 2026, in Naples, Florida.
It was Lambert’s request that his remains be laid to rest beside the love of his life, Mary, in Long Cemetery in Van Buren County, the very place where Lambert and his siblings played as children. In this way, he will return home to the community where his life began.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. Family, friends, and all who wish to honor Lambert’s life are warmly invited to attend.
