Robert Arnold Langley

1941 - 2022

With much sadness, we announce the passing of Robert (Bob) Langley, a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend on January 19, 2022. He passed away peacefully at home after a brief struggle with cancer, surrounded by his family. Many friends had called or stopped that day to share some words and pass some time with him. He was 80 years old; an age he reminded us many times he never expected to achieve.

Born in Marietta, Oklahoma on July 6, 1941 to DB and Clara Jane Langley he was the middle child of five children. He had two older sisters, Jesse and Zaylon and a younger brother and sister, Jerry and Jane. The family moved to Placer Valley California in 1947. In family photos, he was the easily recognizable handsome man in the middle with the Langley trademark ears.

After attending school in Newcastle and Auburn, California, Bob joined the army serving at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii from 1959-1962. After his discharge he returned to California and while working at Safeway he met Patricia Tofell. They married on May 22, 1965 and moved to Olene, Oregon a few months later. They bought the Olene Store from Patricia's father Frank and there raised four children; Damon, Denise, Dianna and Drew. Bob and Pat ran the store in Olene from 1966 to 1996, building the large family home next to the store. For many years he was known as "Olene Bob."

Bob also worked as a salesman for Jefferson State Ford tractors, sold cars for Miller Brothers Cadillac,GMC and after selling the store for Columbia Plywood. He was an active Mason and Shriner for many years and also a member of the Elks lodge where he played on the lodge's pool team. He enjoyed hunting, trips to the desert and working in his shop. He did his share to control the population of ground squirrels and rock chucks on many local ranches. In later years he enjoyed traveling with his wife Pat. They made five pilgrimages to Branson, Missouri. He fished with Damon and Drew in Alaska and he and Pat cruised down the Panama Canal. Once, kicking and screaming, he traveled with Pat down the 500 mile "world's longest yard sale." When he was at home, the TV was on and you could count on San Francisco Giants baseball, Fox news or his favorite RFD TV, which we all referred to as the "polka channel." The man liked his polka music and antique tractor auctions.

There wasn't much he couldn't turn his hand to. He was a competent electrician, plumber and welder. (A little less competent carpenter, which was a frustration to him.) All his kids have a custom piece of furniture or project in their home or classroom that came from his shop in Olene. He passed these "can-do" skills along to his family. He wasn't a sit-around-the-house man. He raised stock. He plowed snow with his old Massy Ferguson. He cut many, many cords of firewood. He liked his bread white, his okra fried and his coffee Folgers. He liked his pants held up by suspenders.

He worked with his sons and daughters on projects at their homes. He raised a family who have taken his attitudes to heart and the values that he passed along have served them well. He taught his sons and daughters "Work hard and do good work. The rest will take care of itself." He was also quietly active in volunteer work. He mowed the grass at the Grange and at Bedfield cemetery, assisted with the grave digging with good friend Taylor High and donated money and produce from his fruit trees to the Klamath County Food bank every year.

He was preceded in death by his father, DB and his mother Clara and by his two elder sisters Jesse and Zaylon. He is survived by his brother Jerry and sister Jane, by his wife of 56 years Patricia, by his four children Damon, Denise , Dianna and Drew and by his grandchildren; Sam, Andrew, Adam, Bailey, Ryan, Tyler, Benjamin and Abigail. He loved his family and was so proud to talk about them. He was much loved in return and will be missed by all who knew him.

A graveside service will be held at Bedfield Cemetery on Harpold Road in Poe Valley on Thursday, January 27 at 11:00 am. A memorial celebration of his life will be held this summer.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to High Desert Hospice, the Klamath County Food Bank or a charity of your choice. The family would like to thank the staff at Skylakes Medical Center and High Desert Hospice for making his last days easier.