John Langdon

1931 - 2023

John Nelson Langdon, age 91, passed away on October 7, 2023, at home. He was born on December 6, 1931, in Myersville, Maryland to John Randolph and Eva Marie Dubel Langdon. He graduated from Middletown High School in 1950 where he met and later married his wife Esther Lorraine Smith Langdon on December 25, 1952. After graduation he went on to the University of Maryland and graduated in 1954. Shortly after graduation he was drafted into the Army which took him to Fort Sam Houston, Texas where he and Lorraine would greet the arrival of their twin boys Randy and Rodney. Upon the end of his military service, they returned to Maryland and settled in Middlepoint where they met many of their lifelong friends, later moving to Myersville where they resided for the next 58 years in the home they built with family and friends. Along the way two daughters Robin, and Regina, were added to their family. Nelson's career included working at Fort Detrick until he found his home at Erie Insurance where he spent 37 years and retired in 1996 as a Vice President and Claims Manager. It was not unusual in his early days as an adjuster to receive calls all hours of the night for a house fire and he immediately went to provide comfort, reassurance, and support on behalf of Erie, he took great pride in helping people during these times in their lives and was glad he was there to help. Nelson was committed to serving his community and helping others throughout his life. He was a lifetime member of the Wolfsville Ruritan Club with over 50 years faithfully supporting the club. He was one of the founders of the Catoctin Gas and Engine Show which was celebrating its 50-year anniversary on the day he passed. He was a member of the Wolfsville Volunteer Fire Company and the Catoctin Fish and Game Protective Assoc. While the boys were young, he volunteered as a Boy Scout Troop Leader along with 2 of his good friends, they spent many hours with the troop members, attending camps and Jamborees' and mentoring many to attain their Eagle Scout. Upon retirement his need to stay busy was great so he joined the Washington County SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) where he mentored and assisted new entrepreneurs. He also volunteered with the American Red Cross in transporting veterans to the Martinsburg VA center multiple times per week and was proud to be a blood donor who was just two pint's shy of the 100-gallon mark. Nelson and Lorraine loved to travel throughout the United States missing only Montana, with their favorites being Alaska and Hawaii which they visited each many times as well as international travel to Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Canada, Mexico and cruising the Caribbean islands. Nelson was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Lorraine Smith Langdon in 2019, son's Randy and Rodney Langdon, sister and brother-in-law, Catherine and Richard Stull, and brother and sister-in-law Glenn and Ruth Smith. He is survived by daughters Robin Ward and husband David, Regina Umberger and husband Jim, granddaughter Jenna Umberger and boyfriend Dave Nash, grandson John Umberger and fiance Kaitlin Stambaugh, brothers and sisters-in-law Tom and Phyllis Fogle, and Kenny and Ellen Smith along with many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at Thompson - Harman Funeral Home, 31 E. Main Street, Middletown, MD on Friday, October 13th at 10:30 am. Burial will be in St. Paul's Lutheran Church cemetery in Myersville, MD. The family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 12th at the funeral home. The family would like to express our thanks for the wonderful care given by Shepherd Staff and Frederick County Hospice. Special shout out to his long-time caregivers Tina, Alex and Sam who had the knack for getting him to do things he didn't necessarily want to do and Tina and Rashiydah for showing such care and respect on his final day. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wolfsville Ruritan Club, PO Box 238, Smithsburg, MD 21783, the Wolfsville Volunteer Fire Co., 12464 Wolfsville Rd, Myersville, MD 21773 or the Myersville Volunteer Fire Co., 301 Main Street, Myersville, MD 21773. Condolences to the family and more information at www.dbthompsonfuneralhome.com John Langdon