Born in Avon Park, FL, he was a son of the late William Mell DeLaney and Mary Black DeLaney. Mr. DeLaney was a U.S. Navy Veteran, was retired from The Orlando Sentinel, and was a member of Calvary Christian Fellowship. Following retirement, he and his wife moved to Boiling Springs, SC to be close to the mountains and to travel.
Mr. DeLaney is survived by five children, William C. DeLaney, Jr., Dana Crawford (Gary), Scott DeLaney (Winsalee), James DeLaney (Connie), and Dawn Aziz; 13 grandchildren; and eleven great grandchildren.