Gerald (Jerry) Wellington DeLoy

Gerald (Jerry) Wellington DeLoy of Tega Cay, SC passed away peacefully and without pain on Monday, June 2, 2025, after 94 glorious years of life. Jerry was born September 24, 1930, in Detroit, Michigan - the youngest of three children – to Clarence and Florence DeLoy.

He is preceded in death by his parents, twin sisters Corine (Dolmage) and Arlene (Shaver), his daughter Diane (Joe Miller), and his devoted wife, Helen (Dykstra) DeLoy - to whom he had a cherished 67 years of marriage after being set up on a blind date. He is survived by four of his five children - David, Don (Dee), Dale (Becky) and Darlene (Tom Lekowski) – and his 15 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.

A wonderful son, volunteer, friend, neighbor, brother, husband, uncle, father and grandfather, Jerry attended Henry Ford Trade School in Detroit, that focused on teaching boys ages 12-18 industrial arts and gave them an opportunity to earn money while they learned. He was a 1952 graduate of Lawrence Institute of Technology (Highland Park, MI) where he was also a loyal member of the Phi Kappa Upsilon fraternity, the first engineering and social fraternity on campus. After graduating, Jerry enjoyed a long-standing career as a Mechanical Engineer, working at many different companies in Connecticut, New York and Michigan, before retiring in his early 60’s.

Jerry is a Korean War Veteran where in 1953 he was assigned to the Army Chemical Center of the Chemical and Radiological Laboratories Protective Division in Edgewood, MD where he served until 1955. His assignment was to design gas masks and test charcoal clothing to protect soldiers against nerve gas exposure.

Jerry was always an active athlete where upon having children he coached many of their sports teams as well as lead various Scouting groups. He and his wife, Helen, were very active members of every community they lived in, volunteering at church and many other organizations throughout the years. He also helped his wife manage the finances for the store she owned - The Blue Water Bible, Book & Gift store in Port Huron, MI for over 20 years - turning it into one of the most successful bookstores of faith in Michigan.

Jerry loved the water and enjoyed many years of boating and golfing with his many friends and children. He made friends everywhere he went and touched so many lives. Jerry’s drive and zest for life and devotion to his family and friends will always remain in our hearts. He will be greatly missed by so many.

Please join us for a short memorial service to celebrate Jerry’s wonderful life on Saturday, July 5, 2025, starting at 11:00am at First Presbyterian Church of Plymouth, 701 Church St., Plymouth, MI.

Thank you for being such a special part of Jerry’s life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dementia Society of America via this link: https://www.dementiasociety.org/donate