A former Carbon County Commissioner who served in the ’80s and ’90s died unexpectedly earlier this week, officials said.

On Thursday, Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein said that Dean D.W. DeLong had passed away and offered his condolences to DeLong’s family.

DeLong, who currently resided in Ocala, Florida, served as a county commissioner from 1984 to 1996.

Mark Sverchek, county controller and secretary to the retirement board, noted that before being elected commissioner, DeLong also served as the county treasurer for six years.

“We want to express our retirement board condolences to Mr. DeLong’s family,” Sverchek said.

According to posts on Facebook, DeLong passed away on Feb. 17. No details on funeral arrangements had been formally announced to the public as of Friday morning.

DeLong had a long career in the Carbon County area.

The son of the late David W. and Edith DeLong, he lived in Mahoning Township, Lansford and Penn Forest Township before relocating to South Carolina and then Florida.

As a county commissioner, he was instrumental in the construction of the 911 communications center on the Broad Mountain in Nesquehoning, creating an archives department and office of fiscal control, and establishing departments to centralize and expand county purchasing and human services.

He also served as chairman of the board from 1992 until 1996.

He is survived by his wife, Betty.