Martha Louise Langlois

MARTHA L. LANGLOIS

1/14/33 – 7/29/25

Martha Louise (Burns) Langlois, Columbus, Ohio, (formerly of Tampa, Florida), passed away peacefully on July 29, 2025, at Riverside Methodist Hospital.

Martha was a shining light in the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing her. Her journey on this earth was one marked by love, compassion and unwavering faith in God. To say she was “an angel on earth”, would be an understatement. She touched many, many people with her gentle and humble spirit. She possessed kindness and compassion as she connected to seemingly everyone. She was blessed with a brilliant mind, an empathetic soul and had the heart of a “true servant” of her Lord. She would have wanted others to remember her for – “not the way her life ended – but, for the way she lived her life and the impact her life had on the lives of those who had the pleasure of knowing her”.

She was born on January 14, 1933, in Junction City, Ohio (aka Vernon Junction, Ohio). Martha was a beloved wife, daughter, stepmother, sister, aunt, cousin, grandmother, great grandmother and even great-great grandmother! She loved her family and never hesitated to talk of them or share pictures while bragging lovingly about them. Her affectionate, motherly character will forever allow many of us to think of her as our true mother-figure.

She graduated from Barberton High School in Barberton, Ohio, in 1951 and went on to train for nine months in New York before becoming an officer in The Salvation Army. When she left her position to begin her work as a secretary, she lived in Vermont, Connecticut and New Hampshire -- where she eventually met her husband, Larry. Together, they decided to settled down in Tampa to begin their lives there.

She immediately obtained a position as a secretary for various professors in the Department of Education at the University of South Florida. She worked there for 33 years before retiring. After her husband passed away, she eventually relocated to Columbus to be near family – especially her brother, Frank, and his wife Sandi. Even after her retirement, her love for learning never stopped as she continued to improve her skills to keep up with ever-changing technology. At 92, she was still very “tech-savvy” when it came to navigating her computer, iPad and iPhone.

“Marty”, as she was affectionately called by her five stepchildren, all survive. Each one had a special place in her heart. They are Patricia “Patsy” and (Larry) Gamelin of Sun Lakes, Arizona; Carol and (Jim) LaPlant of South Burlington, Vermont; Thomas “Tommy” and (Cheryl) Langlois of Essex Junction, Vermont; Suzanne “Suzie” and (David) Brosseau of Westford, Vermont; and, James “Jim” and (Debbi) Langlois of Mays Landing, New Jersey. She is also survived by 18 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren. A host of nieces, nephews and cousins, who also adored her, survive as well.

She was pre-deceased by her father, Ralph Burns and her mother, Bernice C. (Gantzler) Osborn. She was also pre-deceased by two brothers: William L. Burns and Frank R. Burns, two half-brothers: John C. Osborn and Marion R. Osborn and one-half sister, Bernice “Aileen” Coykendall.

She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Worthington Ward. Her most loved, unconditionally-serving church friends were: MaryAnn and Larry Thomas, Marci Kiehl, Tiffany Snavely, Ron and Mary McGrath and Eldeena Ford. In between looking forward to spending quality time with her friends, she found time to lovingly look for ways to serve her church and her many church friends.

She also leaves behind her very best and dearest friends: sister-in-law, Sandi Burns, Mary Hartman, Shelly Clark and Catrina Zanotto. She will be greatly missed by her loving niece, Cindy Wilson, who affectionately referred to her as “my girl”. And, of course, one cannot forget her “very loved and loving” four-legged, furry cat friend, Josie. She was her best buddy and they shared a special connection.

She loved to journal, read, crochet and play dominoes and other board games with her Thursday “lunch bunch”. Everyone also knew just how content she was when she had spare time to sit in front of her computer to do her family genealogy research -- her true passion.

Arrangements are being made by Shaw-Davis Funeral Home. She chose cremation and her ashes will be transferred to Florida to be placed in a niche beside her late husband, Larry, at Curlew Hills Memory Gardens in Palm Harbor. Martha’s wishes were to have no official calling hours. Dates will be given in the future for when her family, her friends and her church family will have gatherings to celebrate her life.

Memorial contributions may be made in her name to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Worthington, the Cat Welfare Association of Clintonville or the Clintonville Community Resource Center.