Richard Keith Langston

Richard Keith Langston passed away peacefully on July 27, 2013 at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas, TX after a long and courageous battle to recover from transplant surgery. Richard was born in Midland on September 29, 1959 to H. Harvey Langston and Joanne Starnes Langston. He attended Robert E. Lee High School and then graduated from St. Stephen's Episcopal School in Austin, TX. He began his college studies at Trinity University in San Antonio, TX and went on to earn Bachelor degrees in Economics and Real Estate Finance from The University of Texas in Austin. Richard worked as a Commercial Property Manager in Austin before moving back to Midland to join Langston Realtors, Inc. as Vice President of Relocation Services. After working in real estate for a number of years, he became an independent insurance agent. Richard dearly loved his maternal grandparents, Joel D. and Edith Starnes, fondly known as Gran-Gran and Mimi, and spent many weekends with them as a young child. He and his Gran-Gran were the best of buddies and he loved to tell stories of riding the bus together to go check on Joel's real estate title businesses in the Permian Basin and of going to church and then out to lunch at the Scharbauer hotel on Sundays. Richard met the love of his life, Siri Lynn Duecker, while working on a volunteer project with the Midland Jaycees. Two weeks later on St. Patrick's Day, they went on their first date and he asked her to marry him, although she did not accept until July 4th after he waged an all-out three-week campaign with flowers and chocolates every week. They married on May 20, 1989 and had two beautiful, intelligent and hard-working children together, Taylor and Jon. Richard's proudest achievement in life was being the best parent he could be and raising Taylor and Jon to be happy, healthy and independent young adults who always knew they were loved unconditionally. He spent many fun weekends camping with Taylor and Jon on YMCA Indian Princess and Indian Guides trips and shared his love of music with both of them. Richard and Siri enjoyed 24 wonderful years of marriage together and enjoyed traveling to a lot of new places, but also spending down time at South Padre Island, frequently with family and friends accompanying them. Richard was a true romantic and surprised Siri with a trip to Las Vegas on their 10th anniversary to renew their wedding vows at the Little White Chapel while being serenaded by the young "Elvis". He was already planning a return trip for next year to do it all again for their 25th anniversary. Richard was happiest spending time with his family and friends, particularly rooting on his Cowboy's and Longhorn's football teams. When his son Jon decided to attend TCU in 2011, the Horned Frogs also became one of his favorite teams. He was a gourmet cook who loved to prepare special meals for dinner parties, but could also grill a mean steak and made a killer Caesar salad, which became a family favorite. Richard truly treasured his friends and family and worked hard at maintaining the bonds and friendships. Richard was preceded in death by his parents and his infant brother, Michael Rowe Langston. He leaves to mourn his passing and celebrate his life, his wife Siri, his children, Taylor Louise Langston and Jon Harris Langston, his brother Mark V. Langston and wife Sara, sister Lynn A. Langston, sister L. Rees Langston and her partner Cheryl Hill and his parents-in-law Milton and Louise Duecker. He is also survived by his aunts Kathryn Langston Henderson and Jean Starnes; uncle, Jon H. Starnes and wife Terry; and loving in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at Christ Church Midland, 5501 N. Midkiff Rd. on Wednesday, August 7, 2013 at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Annette C. and Harold C. Simmons Transplant Institute, 3500 Gaston Avenue, Dallas, TX 75246 or St. Stephen's Episcopal School, 6500 St. Stephen's Drive, Austin, TX 78746.