JOHN DEAN LANGFORD

(March 31, 1920 - January 30, 2010)

John Dean Langford, 89, Panama City Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully at home, Saturday, January 30, 2010, following a struggle with pancreatic cancer. John was born March 31, 1920 in Arcadia, Florida, and moved to a farm in the Limestone community as a young boy with his family. He was the 5th of 8 children of the late Henry Preston Langford, Sr. and Ida Beulah Langford. John attended Limestone School and Hardee County High School, and remained friends with his classmates and cousins for a lifetime. John married Ida Mae Stone in 1952, the first couple to be married in the new Gardner Baptist Church where John was pastoring.
John pastored several churches in and around DeSoto County including Limestone Baptist Church, Myakka City Baptist Church, Ona Baptist Church, Bethany Baptist Church, and North Hillsborough Baptist Church. He was pastoring Brownville Baptist Church when he retired from the ministry in 1978. John was a working pastor who had pride in serving as Head Custodian at West Elementary School for 27 years. He was loved by the administration, teachers and students and often shared humorous stories about his experiences at the school. Most mornings, teachers were welcomed into the schoolhouse by the beautiful melodious voice of John singing while he worked.
For many years John owned an orange grove in Limestone, across the highway from his childhood home. He and Ida Mae spent many days planting a nursery, fertilizing, watering, and keeping the grove from freezing. Another love of John's was raising bees. In the middle of his orange grove was his "honey house" where he processed honey. He had numerous hives in pastures and orange groves around DeSoto County and loved to tell the amazing stories about bees. He employed several high school boys through the years who helped him when the honey came in.
John loved fishing and spent much time with his wife Ida Mae fishing on Lake June in Lake Placid, Florida and Lake Arbuckle. They often competed for the biggest fish and the most fish. Many family members and friends have wonderful memories of fishing experiences with John and Ida Mae through the years. He enjoyed his last fishing trip in the Spring of 2009 at 89 years old with his daughter, Marlene and son-in-law Ray East, landing several king mackerel and Spanish mackerel in front of Shell Island. He greatly enjoyed going often with his son Kevin to watch him cast net for mullet.
John was legally blind and was not able to drive for 40 years. He rode his bicycle to work and this likely contributed to his long life. Though having the challenge of visual impairment, John was known for his joy, his loving-kindness, his storytelling, and his wonderful sense of humor. John too was known for his uncanny ability to imitate the sounds of numerous animals. He was often called upon to perform his "animal calls" when he was employed with DeSoto County schools. He performed his animal calls for birthday parties and elementary school classes of his grandchildren as well.
Though John was not able to read for many years, he could see well enough to play his favorite game, checkers. Well into his last days, he could beat most people at this game, and took great delight in so doing!
John and Ida Mae moved to Venture Out in Panama City Beach, Florida in 2002 to live near their children and grandchildren. Marlene East, their daughter, is a licensed mental health counselor, East Counseling Services, Inc. in Panama City Beach. Their son, Kevin Langford, is a talented singer/guitarist with the band Crosstie. Kevin also owns a fencing/decking company, K&M Woodworks.
John is survived by his wife Ida Mae Langford, 88, his daughter Marlene and her husband Ray East, his son Kevin Langford and his wife Margie, all of Panama City. He is survived also by his grandchildren, Allison "Allie" Lague, a freshman at University of West Florida; his grandson, Brian Lague, 7th grade, Surfside Middle School; his step-granddaughter Jennifer Mefford and her children Lily and Caden Mefford of Panama City Beach; his step-grandson Raymond East III residing in Odessa, Ukraine; his step-grandson Colin Sappington of Panama City, Florida and step-great-grand-daugther Jaden Sappington.
John is survived by his siblings Allie Wright of Arcadia and Remer Langford formerly of Sarasota and now residing in the Villages; and also by numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
John was preceded in death by his parents, a son, Norman Jonathan Langford, siblings: HP Langford, Jr., Earline Sceggel, Frances Eatman Bates, Badger Langford, and Willie Kay Doss, nephews: Keith Langford, Wayne Doss, step-grandson Peter Sappington; step-greatgrandson Jaxson Sappington.
Funeral services are being coordinated by Ponger-Kays-Grady Funeral Home in Arcadia, Florida. Visitation for family will be from 6-7 pm Thursday, February 4, 2010 at the funeral home and for friends from 7-9 pm. The funeral service will be at 2 pm Friday, February 5, 2010 at First Baptist Church of Arcadia with burial following at Joshua Creek Cemetery, Arcadia, Florida. Rev. Greg George of Gulf Beach Baptist will officiate. Pallbearers will be John's nephews: Leon Langford, Fred Langford, Richard Eatman, Thomas Eatman, Julian Wright, James "Marty" Langford and Bill Langford.
A memorial service will be held locally on Sunday, February 7, at 2:30 pm at Gulf Beach Baptist Church, also with Pastor George officiating.
Online condolences may be made at pongerkaysgrady.com. The family wishes to express appreciation to the wonderful care of Covenant Hospice, particularly nurse Mary Glissman. Also special thanks to caregiver Keisha Payne for her tender loving care, and the support of friends and family. Those wishing to make a memorial gift in lieu of flowers may send to Covenant Hospice, 107 W 19th Street, Panama City, Florida, 32405.
Wilson Funeral Home