Ronald Irvin Langston

Ronald Irvin Langston, 90, peacefully passed away on March 14, 2025, joining his Lord and Savior. He was born on Feb. 9, 1935, in Sopchoppy, Florida and was the only child of the late Amos Irvin Langston and Myrtle Roddenberry Langston.

Ron graduated from Sopchoppy High School in 1952 and entered Florida State University at the age of 17. At FSU, he played on the basketball and tennis teams and was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. It was at FSU where he met the love of his life, Jimmie Kathleen (Kate) Ramsey. Neither wanted to date the other because they came from rival high schools, but she soon discovered Ron was a good dancer at her sorority house and decided to date him. They were married for nearly 65 years.

Ron served in both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army, before joining the Army Reserves. He began his career at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Miss. as an electronics instructor, along with a brief stint as a Handi-House Manufacturing dealer until Hurricane Donna had other plans for him. He returned to Keesler to work before moving to Huntsville, Ala., where he was a contract specialist for the U.S. Army Safeguard System Command. At Safeguard, Ron worked on the Redeye Program, the Nike X Program and the Nike Hercules Program.

He then pivoted his career path to move back to Sopchoppy, Fla. to take over his father's grocery store. For the next 18 years, he owned and operated grocery stores in Sopchoppy, Carrabelle and Port St. Joe, along with being the co-owner of a Flint River Mills (FRM) store in Sopchoppy. As a groceryman, he was known for his generosity in helping people in need and giving many local kids their first job. After selling his business in 1993, he worked with a childhood friend in building houses in Wakulla County.

Ron had a deep faith and shared his testimony with anyone who would listen. He was a deacon in his church, taught Sunday School for more years than one can remember, served on countless committees and often shared his faith through his singing in church and participating in local mission trips.

Throughout his life, he was a generous provider, taking his family on numerous camping trips, snow ski adventures and international excursions. He loved wearing a navy sweater vest at the cold snap of fall and organizing everything on his yellow 8.5x12-inch legal pad.

Ron was known for his sourdough bread starters – baking the best cinnamon rolls and dinner rolls and sharing with friends – and always having a freezer full of homemade ice cream.

In addition to his wife, he is also survived by his two children, Steven Langston (Edie) of Orlando, Fla., and Suzanne Langston Barwick (Parrish) of Wakulla Springs, Fla.; grandchildren Emma Langston Riebl (Shaun), Walker Langston, Shay Barwick (Courtney) and Sloan Barwick Wallace (Dylan); a great-grandson Franklin Wallace; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law Richard and Sue Ramsey; nieces Lisa Gonzales, Karla Kneece (Trey), Rebecca Ramsey DeVuyst (Michael) and Allyson Ramsey Howell (Ray); nephew Chad Ramsey (Kelly) and first cousins Electa Roddenberry Walker, Thurmon Roddenberry, Billie Roddenberry (Susan) and Fanchon Roddenberry Revell.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, March 22 from 10-11 a.m., at the Sopchoppy Southern Baptist Church and the funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. A burial will follow at the West Sopchoppy Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Sopchoppy Southern Baptist Church (SSBC) Community Outreach or the SSBC Benevolence Fund (P.O. Box 128, Sopchoppy, FL 32358 or (850-962-7822). Skip and Trey Young along with Paula and Kimberly are caring for the family.