Carl Darrell Langston

Carl was born Saturday, May 26, 1945, in San Pablo, California to Russell Langston Sr. and Sarah Kathryn Williams. He was the only one of his mother’s children to be born at home by a mid-wife. Monday, May 28, 1945, is the birth date the state of California legally recorded for him being a viable birth.

Being raised in the military with six siblings, he lived numerous places in the United States and abroad. He was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith in Verona, Italy in April 1957. Carl served as an altar boy in the church and had a close relationship with God. As a youth he played all sports but excelled in basketball and baseball winning several awards and honors. His nicknames were “Dusty” like his big brother Russell’s nickname “Rusty” and “Too Tall” as he was tall and lanky. Later, he would play baseball with the Postal league, bowl, and golf. He traveled the United States golfing with his Uncle Charles Lennard Ward Sr. “Charlie”, teaching his nephews John and George to golf, and frequently visiting his sister Sonia in Phoenix where he enjoyed the golf courses. Animals especially dogs were his joy, but sports were his passion, and he would not miss a game regardless of where he was or who he was visiting, he would have all around him engaged with a game. He was the uncle that would take his nieces and nephews to the 7eleven to get “Slurpees.” He loved his family and at any given time he was keeping in touch with someone by texting or talking striking up thought provoking conversations.

Attending a different high school from freshman to senior year, he graduated June 1965 in the Top 25 percent of his class from Kaiserslautern American High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. In the fall 1965 he was accepted and entered Cardinal Glennon College for seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. During a break, in the height of the Vietnam War he was drafted in June 1968 after completing basic training he was shipped to Vietnam. Talking little about his experiences in Vietnam, Carl often said that his dad met him in Vietnam and gave him invaluable knowledge that kept him alive and allowed him to return home. Arriving in California from Vietnam, stepping off the plane he kissed the ground. Proud of his military service he was assigned to the “Big Red 1” Division during the third phase of the TET Offensive, among many medals he earned, he was proudest of his Combat Infantry Badge. After his military service he went on the graduate from California State University, Los Angles, California in May 1976. He pledged Alpha Phi Alpha in the fall 1974 and remained a lifelong member with the national chapter. After settling in El Paso, Texas he applied and was accepted into the MBA program at the University of Texas at El Paso.

Preceding him in death is his dad and mom, Little Joe and Sarah Kathryn Williams, brother, Russell Langston Jr., sister, Carolyn Faye Meador, infant nieces, Jolene Kaye Thomas, Rebecca Ann Jackson, infant nephew, George Joe Jackson, father, Russell Langston Sr.

Left to cherish his memory are four sisters: Patricia Ann Langston, Brenda Kaye Thomas, Sarah Tiziana Jackson, and Sonia Anneliese Williams. Nieces and nephews: Andrea Marcia Ballard, John Albert and Marjoriemay Balite Thomas III, Christina Nicole Thomas, Kathryn Marie and Christen Laronne Bush, Sarah Jessica Jackson, and George Frank Jackson III. Great nieces and nephews: Jerome Marcel (Kaylie Pikus) Ballard, Alessia Renee Bush, Isaiah Christen Bush, Makenna Balite Thomas, Sonora Balite Thomas, and Hannah Grace Bush. Many beloved cousins, family members, and friends.

To know Carl was to love Carl, he was friendly, loving and a generous person with his time, attention, and gifts. We are forever touched by his phrases: “outta sight”, “outstanding”, “be cool”, and the most profound, “choose LIFE.” There is a place in many hearts that will never be filled by his passing, and he will be forever fondly remembered by his loving family and friends.

Viewing will be held on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at 1:00 to 4:00 pm with Rosary at 3:00 pm at Martin Funeral Home, 1460 George Dieter, El Paso, Texas 79936. Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, March 28, 2022, at 9:00 am at St. Francis Xavier Cabrini Catholic Church, 12200 Vista Del Sol, El Paso, Texas 79936. Burial with Full Military Honors will be following the Mass at 10:30 am at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery, 5200 Fred Wilson Blvd, El Paso, Texas 79906. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the National Veterans Foundation, https://nvf.org; Heart Association, https://www.heart.org/aha/donate; or a charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MartinFuneralHomeEast.com for the Langston Williams family.