Thomas S. DeLay, 89, of Jackson, Ohio, passed away on July 30, 2012. He was born on February 3, 1923 in Columbus, Ohio, the son of Frank O. and Edythe (Shuter) DeLay of Jackson.
He is survived by his wife, Lee Hawk, and their three children, Susan DeLay of Chicago, IL, Jan DeLay Hoyt (Mike) of O’Fallon, IL, and David DeLay (Angel) of Jackson; six grandchildren: Matt (Danielle) Hoyt, Josh (Kelsey) Hoyt, Adam Hoyt and Dillon DeLay (Karisa), Dex DeLay, and Katie DeLay; and four great-grandchildren, and one nephew, John Apel. He is preceded in death by one sister, Catherine DeLay Apel.
Tom served with Patton’s Third Army in World War II, graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University and the University of Cincinnati Law School. He entered into a private law practice with his father in 1953, and from 1963-1981, he served as Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney. During this time he was elected as president of the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association and later served on the National District Attorneys Board. He served as Probate and Juvenile Judge of the Common Pleas Court in Jackson County beginning in 1981 and retired from the bench in 1991. He then served as a visiting judge in counties throughout the state on assignment from the Supreme Court of Ohio until 2003.
He was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Jackson, serving as a Trustee, Elder, and choir member. He was active in the Scioto Valley Presbytery and for 65 years he was an active member of the York Rite Masonic Bodies in Jackson, and later served as a District Deputy Grand Master. He served on the Holzer Medical Center Board of Trustees and was a member of the B.P.O.E. the American Legion, the DAV and VFW.
Calling hours will be from 3-7:30 p.m. with a Masonic service at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 1 at the Lewis-Gillum Funeral Home, (formerly Eisnaugle-Lewis Funeral Home) 28 Harding Avenue, Jackson. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, August 2 at the Lewis-Gillum Funeral Home, followed by the interment at Fairmount Cemetery in Jackson.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Jackson, Ohio. Online condolences may be sent to www.e-k-lewisfuneral.com