Rev. Hugh E. Delaney

Nicholasville-Rev. Hugh E. Delaney laid aside his cane and walked through heaven-s gate early Sunday morning, January 31, 2010, one month after celebrating his 98th birthday. Hugh was born outside Hartford, KY on January 1, 1912, the youngest child of William Delaney and Janie Bennett Delaney. He attended Bowling Green Business University, where in 1931 he met C. Lee Olliff, whom he would marry fifteen years later.

A graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary, Hugh served as pastor for a total of 20 Methodist churches in Kentucky beginning in 1944. Although he officially retired in 1978 at age 66, he continued to pastor full-time until 2003 at Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Church near Nicholasville, KY.

When he finally stepped out of the pulpit at age 91, he was the longest-serving minister in the Kentucky Conference. Having spent two years as an invalid with tuberculosis and then rheumatic fever during his twenties, he thanked God that during 59 years of ministry he was out of the pulpit just three Sundays as a result of illness. He often said he loved every day he spent in the ministry. Lee Delaney, his wife of 59 years, died in 2005.

He is survived by his two sons, Paul and Harold; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

His son Paul teaches at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA, where he lives with his wife Dianne. His granddaughter Elizabeth, married to Kevin Hess, and great-grandson Liam also live in Santa Barbara. His grandson Arthur lives in Portland, OR.

His son Harold teaches at the University of New Mexico and lives outside Albuquerque with his wife Nancy. His grandson Ben lives in Boulder, CO with wife Megan, and great-grandchildren Caleb and Stella. His granddaughter Sarah lives in Lexington, KY with husband Ty Camp and great-grandson Jonah. His grandson Jesse also lives in Lexington with wife Nicole.

Visitation will be at Betts & West Funeral Home in Nicholasville on Friday, Feb. 5, from 6 to 9 p.m. Funeral services will be at Mt. Lebanon Methodist Church near Nicholasville at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6. Online guestbook at www.BettsandWestfuneralhome.com

Visitation:
6-9pm Friday February 5, 2010 at Betts & West Funeral Home

Funeral:
11:00am Saturday February 6, 2010 at Betts & West Funeral Home

Interment:
Bluegrass Memorial Gardens