Mildred Smart DeLong
July 7, 1918 - July 24, 2012
Mildred Smart DeLong
July 7, 1918 – July 24, 2012
Mildred died with grace in Salt Lake City, Utah on Pioneer Day, surrounded by family. It was the end of an extraordinary life, lived to the fullest.
Mildred was born in Roosevelt, Utah on July 7, 1918 to Nelle Buckwalter and Thomas Lawrence Smart, and spent her youth in Provo, Utah. Summers spent in American Fork with her beloved grandparents, Eliza and John Buckwalter, were the highlight of her school years. She earned her Bachelor of Science from Brigham Young University in 1941, and returned to school to earn her Master of Social Work degree from Portland State University in 1968.
During World War II, Mildred married her sweetheart Joseph Haycock DeLong on November 29, 1942, in San Antonio, Texas. Their affection and devotion was unwavering. They were happily married for nearly 50 years, and raised five children in the Portland, Oregon area. Some of Mildred’s happiest memories were of days spent waterskiing with her family on the Columbia River. Mildred and Joe retired to Provo, Utah in 1982. After Joe’s death in 1992, Mildred continued to live in their Rock Canyon home until 2004.
Mildred was an enthusiastic member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all her life. She held many leadership positions in the Relief Society, the Mutual Improvement Association, and the Children’s Primary. Together with her husband Joe, Mildred served as a temple worker in the Provo Temple, and as a service missionary in Guatemala from 1981-1982.
Mildred was an avid reader and a lifelong learner. Throughout her life she belonged to numerous book clubs, garden clubs, and study groups. She was a proud member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, and she discovered a talent for painting in her later years. Mildred was a natural athlete and was committed to physical fitness. As a child, she loved to dance, tumble, and play basketball, and was known to walk to the grocery store on her hands.
Mildred believed in being an active member of her community. As the mother of school-aged children, she was the PTA President for Hosford Grade School. She was a social worker for LDS Social Services and in the Portland School District for several years. Even in retirement she taught literacy and parenting skills to at-risk families. Her Provo home was a refuge and second home for numerous grandchildren, many of whom lived with her during their college years.
Mildred loved to cook, entertain, quilt, sew, and travel. She took pride in being well dressed and in creating a lovely home. She was a true friend, a cheerful mother, and a delightful grandmother. She cherished life, commenting each year on her birthday that her current age was the best age to be. Always young at heart, Mildred’s clever sense of humor, warmth, and zest for life will be remembered by all who knew her.
Mildred is survived by five children: Joseph DeLong (Lilian) of South Weber, Utah; Kurt DeLong (Barb) of Silverton, Oregon; Thomas DeLong (Vineeta) of Cambridge, Massachusetts; Catharine DeLong of Salt Lake City, Utah; and David DeLong (Irina) of Olympia, Washington. She is survived by 25 grandchildren and over 30 great grandchildren, to whom she is known affectionately as Grandma Dearie. She is also survived by three siblings: Margaret Fife Eyring of Henderson, Nevada; William Smart (Donna) of Salt Lake City, Utah; and Richard Smart (Yolaine) who lives in France.
Mildred is preceded in death by her husband Joe, her infant son George, her brother Thomas Smart, and her sister Mary Hales Jensen.
Friends may call upon the family at an open house on Friday, July 27th from 6 to 8 PM at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, Salt Lake City. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 28th at 11:00 AM, also at Starks Funeral Parlor where friends may visit with the family beginning at 10:30 AM. Interment to follow at Salt Lake City Cemetery, 4th Ave. and “N” Street, Salt Lake City.
Mildred’s family would like to thank the staff at Hillside Rehabilitation Center and Curo Home Health & Hospice for their loving and thoughtful attention to Mildred in her last year. In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Mildred with a memorial donation to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org.
In Loving Memory
Aunt Mildred was an important part of our fondest memories. She was beautifully accepting of my husband Carl, and we spent many cherished visits with her in her home. She made everyone feel like they were her favorite. Blessings to all of you and the lovely legacy she left behind. The world is a better place because of Mildred!
Jhoane Smart Robinson
Roosevelt, UT
I have known of Mildred since being "adopted" into the DeLong family after meeting Catharine in a New York hotel back in 1973. My fondest memories are of Mildred's welcoming, wide smile and of her embracing me as a close and lasting friend of Catharine's. As a sister-in-law of Tom's, I've logged many memories with the DeLong group. I love the DeLong clan; my thoughts and happy memories are with you in this time of passing. Becky Collett
Becky Collett
Bountiful, Ut
Sorry to learn of your mom's passing. Growing up in Portland in the 60"s, we always viewed your family as one of the stalwarts and your mom, in particular, as a model of grace, service, and leadership. Her life, indeed, touched many for good.
Paul Glauser
Draper, Ut
at Oxbridge a student is seltceed solely on their academic potential, a student at HYPS is seltceed on their potential to be successful and wealthy and in turn donate large sums to their Alma mater. I am afraid it is not so clear-cut.On Oxbridge applications, they explicitly ask if any members of the family have attended Oxbridge. Names have to be provided with matriculation year and college information etc. I cannot imagine what purpose it is put to except to know who has deep pockets, or worse to advance the cause of nepotism. Further, the tradition of giving to one's school is not so ingrained in British minds. However increasingly the lure of seeing one's name on buildings etc means wealthy people even those _totally unrelated_ to these Universities are now donating piles of cash. Alumni still have to be exhorted Cambridge is in its 800th year and raising a31B and it is not proving easy because it appears the British folk have a greater sense of entitlement and hence a lesser desire to give back than their American counterparts. This may be changing but our press is full of discussion of student loans and debt and so on.Also these Universities (Oxbridge) have existed so long, while milking alumni for all they are worth is a relatively new 20th century concept. From a distance it seems Oxford does a better job of it but Cambridge is not at our throats for fund-raising. There are pleas and requests, no badgering tele-calls.I also think that both HYPS and Oxbridge place equal significance on academic fit of an applicant (I was accepted both at MIT and Cambridge for my second University stint, so I cite my experience in defence of this point).Just my tuppence. I do not know where you are located and what the basis of your points is, but since I disagreed a bit, it is worth saying it.Thanks.
John
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My paternal gradnmother was Mildred Dial, the wife of John Allen Webb; the photograph that you have above is that of Sarah Ann Courtney, that was widowedby Henry Washington Martin circa 1864; late in 1865, she married George Pill, oif this union was born Mariah Pill, the wife of Lemeul Caleb Dial of Caddo Parish, Louisiana.Henry Washington Martin, known as Wash was a contact that was provided to George Pill, a resident of Crawford County, Missouri during the War For Southern Independence, some time in 1864. While as spy in Crawford County, George Pill had drawn a short straw; he was told to spy and become familiar with the activities of a known Union man for one whole week, that began on a Saturday; this man, upon having brought a saddle of corn to the grist meal, waited until his corn was ground, left. George Pill waited along the side of the road, kiling the man and riding off with his meal and horse, where he eventually came in to Lafayette County, Arkansas, where he came to the farm of Wash Martin, where he was then informed of the death of his contact some time earlier, many months before.
Ayanda
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My paternal grnhmdotaer was Mildred Dial, the wife of John Allen Webb; the photograph that you have above is that of Sarah Ann Courtney, that was widowedby Henry Washington Martin circa 1864; late in 1865, she married George Pill, oif this union was born Mariah Pill, the wife of Lemeul Caleb Dial of Caddo Parish, Louisiana.Henry Washington Martin, known as Wash was a contact that was provided to George Pill, a resident of Crawford County, Missouri during the War For Southern Independence, some time in 1864. While as spy in Crawford County, George Pill had drawn a short straw; he was told to spy and become familiar with the activities of a known Union man for one whole week, that began on a Saturday; this man, upon having brought a saddle of corn to the grist meal, waited until his corn was ground, left. George Pill waited along the side of the road, kiling the man and riding off with his meal and horse, where he eventually came in to Lafayette County, Arkansas, where he came to the farm of Wash Martin, where he was then informed of the death of his contact some time earlier, many months before.
Hardik
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