Leslie Langston

LANGSTON, LESLIE LES Funeral services are scheduled for Friday, May 4, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at LaGrone Funeral Chapel for Leslie Les Langston, age 85, who passed away at home on May 1, 2012 surrounded by the love of his family. Doug Austin and Bob Cates of Country Club Road Church of Christ will officiate with interment to follow at South Park Cemetery.

Les was born on March 25, 1927, the youngest of 8 children in Palestine, Texas to Kay Carl and Leonette Kite Langston. They have both preceded him in death as well as a son, Larry Myron Langston and a granddaughter, Tammie Williford. Leslie was also preceded in death by brothers J.B., Denver, Dewey and Melvin Langston and two sisters, Mildred Medlin and Hazel Allen.

Les married Nancy Eunice Lovett on July 3, 1947 in Hobbs, New Mexico. She survives him at the family home.

He is survived by his daughters: Cynthia Green and her husband Jesse of San Angelo, TX, Peggy Langston of Carrolton, TX, Debbie Gannon and her husband James of Azle, TX and Evelyn Williams of Dayton, NV brother: Ralph Langston and his wife Betty of Odessa, TX. He is also survived by six grandchildren: Shannon Rosales and husband Joe, of San Angelo, TX, Robin Moreno and husband Alex of Ft. Worth, TX, Christi Langston and partner Rose Cheney of Roswell, Tiffany Gratts of Azle, TX, Casscade Williams of Grass Valley, CA, Sierra Williams of Roswell. He was also survived by seven great grandchildren: Rachel Williford of San Antonio, TX, Travis, Isabel, Anthony and Jonathan Rosales of San Angelo, TX, Makaila and Tristen Gratts of Azle, TX.

Pallbearers will be Jesse Green, James Gannon, Alex Moreno, Joe Rosales, Travis Rosales and Kim Hutton. Honorary pallbearers will be Wesley Williams, Robert Smiley and Casscade Williams.

Leslie served in the U. S. Navy in World War II as Seaman 2nd class in the boat division operating landing craft. He traveled to the Marianas and other islands in the Pacific theater on the U.S. S. Feland APA 11. All of his brothers and brothers in law served in various services and all survived the war. After the war he went to Texas Tech at Lubbock, TX for 3 semesters, then ENMU Portales for 1 semester.

Les worked for Humble Oil Company now Exxon for 12 years in Texas and New Mexico. He then went into business for himself for several years in 2 service stations and a trailer house rental business. He and Nancy moved to Portales in 1965 and both went to college full time while working until they both graduated in 1968 and 1969. He went to work teaching vocational subjects at ENMUR and continued college until 1970 graduating with a Masters Degree in Education Administration. He was supervisor of all Voc Tech programs for a time, then established the Oilfield Training Program and became Chairman of the department. Leslie retired from the university in 1983 and went to Egypt to work as a curriculum training specialist for 2 years. He came back to Roswell and taught again at ENMUR until 1990 when he went to New Zealand to teach oil field subjects for 5 months. When he returned from New Zealand he taught part time again at ENMUR until he was 80 years old. Leslie was a member of Country Club Church of Christ. He was also a treasured member of the High Prairie Poets.

Leslie was active as a Boy Scouts of America leader when he lived at Hobbs, NM. He raised an entire generation of boys seeing them through Scouts and Explorers. He was a Girl Scout Leader in Roswell one year. In addition he had several hobbies which included welding art objects and built 5 drilling rigs representing various historical times. His rigs have been displayed in several states including the New Mexico Round House as well as locally. He also wrote poetry and is a published author of a fiction book and a technical manual about oil field subjects for the state of Oklahoma.

Friends may contribute to the charity of their choice.

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