Ronald B. Langley passed away October 2nd, 2023, with his family at his bedside and Bluegrass music in his ear. Ron was born in Laconia 76 years ago and grew up in Concord, New Hampshire. We met in Barnet in 1984 and were married for 36 years minus a day.
Ron was a brilliant and talented man. Upon graduation from Northeastern University in 1970 with a degree in electrical engineering, he bought some tools and took up carpentry. He was especially good at building windows and doors, and the shop he built for himself had - count ‘em – fifteen windows and five doors.
Before it was common for folks to have their own computers, and after his slide rule was put out to pasture, Ron would entertain himself by sitting on the couch with a calculator and doing logarithms. After purchasing our first computer, he amassed a vast collection of books on programming and he started writing all sorts of programs. He wrote music programs, drawing programs, one that helped me design knitting motifs, one for doing Sudoku puzzles, and other projects known only to him. “Whatcha doing, Ron?” “Oh, just messing around.”
Ron taught himself to play guitar and piano, and played in a number of different bands, performing Bluegrass and playing for contra dances, usually with his family in tow. He could come up with interesting chord progressions to surprise the listener, looking my way to see my reaction to something new. He was my favorite accompanist, and not just in music. He told me I was his favorite mandolin player, and I admit we made some great music together.
His family includes his four sons and their families: Patrick and Stephanie, Connor and Alicia and their children Natalie, Elliott, and Finnegan, Kevin and his fiancé Ally, and Jonathan and his partner Christal. He also leaves behind his three sisters and a brother: Donna, Linda and her husband Phil, Patty and her husband Paul, and Bob, and many nieces and nephews and their families.
His family suggests that a sterling way to honor Ron would be to make a donation to the Barnet Public Library, Barnet, VT. He had a lifelong love for reading, especially Science Fiction. His funeral will be private for family members.
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