Edsel Langdon

"Zeke", Edsel Langdon was born in Hartford City, Ind. on Nov 15, 1929. He was the eldest of five children born to Murl Rarick and Mark Wesley Langdon. His lifelong nickname was given by grade school classmates that thought it sounded funny. He died peacefully after an extended battle with Multiple Myeloma on Aug 23, 2009. Funeral arrangements are scheduled for 10:00 AM Thursday August, 27, 2009 at the Hideaway Lake Community Church under the direction of Caudle-Rutledge Funeral Home in Lindale. The Family will receive friends at the funeral home Wednesday evening from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. In lieu of flowers he requested that memorials be given to the Gideon's or the charity of your choice. Near the farm where he grew up, the family attended Mt. Carmel Methodist church, where his mother played the piano. Zeke was a great help to his mother, working the farm and often fixing breakfast for his younger brothers, Don, Richard, and David, while his mother cared for his ailing father. He enjoyed fixing a breakfast of eggs until his final days. He saved his money at an early age for flying lessons, against his parents' wishes, and proudly landed an airplane in the hayfield to prove his abilities when he was just 16. Zeke was an outstanding athlete, still holding records at both Hartford City High School and in college. He attended both Purdue and Ball State Universities and eventually got his Masters in Science from University of IL. It was at Ball State that he met "Boots" Beulah Kegebein and wed on Aug 17, 1952. Shortly thereafter, they left for Alaska where he served in the US Air Force as a weatherman. He spent time in the Arctic Circle as a part of research done for the International Geophysical Year and told a good many stories about his time there. In 1960, they had their only child, Beth, in Freeport IL where they taught for 25 years. They moved to Hideaway in 1985 and continued to teach in Marshall and Lindale for another 10 years. They attended HAWL community church where he was active in starting a men's Bible study, served on various boards, and went on many mission trips. He was a member of the Gideons', BSF, Kiwanis, and the computer club. Zeke worked as a bailiff for the Grand Jury in Tyler, and was an integral part of the Salvation Army Toy Distribution and Disaster teams. Zeke is preceded in death by his beloved "Boots", his parents and an infant sister, Mary Jo and survived by his daughter and brothers. He was a believer in teaching, learning and thinking. A kind, generous man that felt every mistake was an opportunity to learn. Zeke loved Bible prophecy and playing show and tell with his latest electronic gadget. His GPS was never far away and guided many an "adventure", but he didn't need it on his final trip...he knew he was headed Home.

Edsel Langdon

November 15, 1929 - August 23, 2009