Delano Eugene Long, of Rockingham, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, went to his heavenly rest on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026.
Delano was born Sept. 10, 1940, son of Worth Bagley and Bessie Hurst Long.
He was a 1958 graduate of Rockingham High School and graduated East Carolina College in 1963 with a B.S. Degree in Business and History.
Delano was an industrial engineer and payroll manager with J.P. Stephens in Cheraw, South Carolina, and later West Point Stephens in Laurinburg, North Carolina, until he retired in 2000. In his younger years, he was an avid car enthusiast, even building his own “hot rod” which he drove back and forth to college. He loved hunting and fishing and all outdoor sports and, in his later years, he made his property a haven for all wildlife. He loved photography and teaching his grandsons to enjoy the outdoors.
He was a lifelong member of Mount Olive Baptist Church, serving in various positions throughout the years.
Delano is preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Levon (Gwen).
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Brenda Canipe; a younger brother, Gerald (Angela); daughters, Chiara Sheppard (David) of Rockingham and Sabrina Hunsicker (Jeremey) of Salem, Virginia; and four grandsons, Ian David of Rochester, New York, Andrew Hunter of Rockingham, and Rowan Quinn and Theron Elias of Salem, Virginia.
Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026 at Eastside Cemetery, with the Revs. Delane Burris and Bryan Blackwell officiating. The family will receive visitors at the graveside and ask that there be no visitors at the home since the daughter, Chiara, has just returned home from heart surgery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Virginia Institute of Autism, 312 Whitwell Drive, Roanoke, Virginia 24019.
Harrington Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Long family.
Online condolences may be made at harringtonfuneralhome.com.
