December 27, 1950 ~ July 21, 2026 (age 75)
Daniel “Dan” McDonald Furlong, 75, passed away on July 21, 2026, at his home in Auburn, Alabama. Born in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Dan’s story would take him across the Southeast—and even farther southeast—and back again, with Auburn always close to his heart.
Dan loved stories—listening to them, telling them, and, as many will smile to remember, telling them again and again without apology. He never minded revisiting a good story, especially if it meant sharing a laugh, landing a punchline, or making a connection. He enjoyed a lively debate, stood firmly for what he believed, and never hesitated to speak up—especially when it came to defending someone who needed it. He had a deep care for individuals with disabilities and a habit of bringing home dogs in need of a second chance. Dan’s compassion for those who are too often treated unjustly lives on through his daughter, Courtney, in the work she carries forward—reflecting the care, advocacy, and respect for others that he instilled in her.
Dan grew up in Pensacola, Florida, and graduated from Wade Hampton High School in Greenville, South Carolina. He attended Auburn University, following in the footsteps of his parents and grandfather. It was there that he earned his degree in business, deepened his lifelong love for the Auburn Tigers, and met Marilyn, who would become his wife and partner of 53 years. Auburn would remain a steady thread through his life—and later, a shared bond with his daughter, Courtney, who went on to earn four degrees from the university.
After college, Dan answered the call to serve as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War, first on the CG-12 USS Columbus and later on the DDG-7 USS Henry B. Wilson. In service, he played a key role in the Mayaguez incident on Koh Tang—part of a high-stakes effort that successfully recovered 39 American crew members taken captive at sea—an experience that spoke to both his steadiness and sense of duty. At one point, he was even communicating directly with President Gerald Ford—or so the legend goes.
Among his Navy awards were the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Expeditionary Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon. He was honorably discharged in 1976 and would carry both pride in his service and the weight of it with strength as a disabled veteran. Years later, he returned to Southeast Asia—this time alongside his wife and daughter—revisiting Cambodia with a perspective shaped by time, memory, and the life he had built since. During that visit, he connected with people whose lives had been touched by the legacy of the war, listening to their stories with the same care and attention he so often brought to telling his own.
Dan spent most of his professional life working in the textile industry and made his home in the Atlanta area for nearly forty years before returning to Auburn in 2018.
Faith was not just something Dan believed—it was something he lived out in community. From 1982 until 2018, Dan was a member of Norcross First United Methodist Church, where he gave generously of his time to the church’s young people, serving as a youth counselor and teaching Sunday school for many years. Dan believed that young people didn’t need to be given the answers. Rather, he believed that faith is deepened when we are given space to wrestle with the mysteries of God’s love.
Music was woven throughout Dan’s life. Coming from a long line of singers, he rarely passed up an opportunity to lift his voice alongside others. Dan spent many years singing with the Norcross First United Methodist Church choir. Later, he continued singing with the Auburn United Methodist Church choir, with whom he traveled to sing at places like Carnegie Hall in New York City, the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and Cadogan Hall in London, England.
Dan spent his life using his voice in many ways: To make music, to build friendships, to strengthen faith, and to pursue justice. He believed that God’s love called people to worship together by caring for one another and building a better world.
Dan is survived by his beloved wife, Marilyn Matthews Furlong, whom he married in 1973, and his daughter, Courtney Anne Furlong. He is also survived by his siblings: Emily (Palmer) Dauphin, Clark Furlong, and Amy (Kenny) Stamatis, along with their children and several great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Iris McDonald Andrews (2024), and his father, Thomas “Tom” Frederick Furlong (2011), along with his wife, Anne.
To honor Dan’s life and the causes he cared deeply about, the family invites others to donate to a local charity, adopt a rescue dog, or spend quality time with individuals with disabilities.
Since Dan enjoyed eating, talking, laughing, arguing about Auburn sports and obscure points of theology, and telling the same stories a hundred times, friends and family are invited to gather at Piccolo at 241 South College Street in Auburn, Alabama, on August 7, 2026, from 12-2:30 PM, to fellowship and tell those stories one more time.
Funeral services will be held at Auburn University Chapel, 139 South College Street, Auburn, Alabama, on August 8, 2026, at 11 AM.
A graveside service with military honors will be held at Greenwood Cemetery, 909 Lincoln Road, Montgomery, Alabama, on August 9, 2026, at 3 PM CST.
Whether you stop by to share a story, attend a service, or spend the entire weekend celebrating Dan, the family would love to have you there.
For Family and Friends Traveling to Auburn
We are grateful for those traveling to celebrate Dan’s life. The Hotel at Auburn University & Dixon Conference Center at 241 South College Street in Auburn, Alabama is within easy walking distance of Piccolo, Auburn University Chapel, Auburn United Methodist Church, and much of downtown Auburn. Street parking is available throughout the downtown area, and additional parking will be available in the parking deck at the Hotel & Conference Center and at Auburn United Methodist Church at 137 South Gay Street, Auburn, Alabama.
Guests are welcome to enjoy Auburn’s walkable downtown throughout the weekend. The graveside service at Greenwood Cemetery in Montgomery will require separate travel. Maps to the graveside will be distributed at the service on Saturday.
Local Obituaries brought to you by Frederick-Dean and Valley Point Funeral Homes. “Serving our communities in their time of need”.
