On Jan. 1, 2011, after a full life, God’s good and faithful servant Carolyn Langdon entered into His glorious presence. Family was there to bid her farewell — for now — as she passed peacefully into Heaven.
Back on April 6, 1926, in Spokane, Elsa and Henry Nelson welcomed their baby daughter Elsalois Carolyn Nelson to this earth.
God knew he could rely on Carolyn to spread love in the world for the next 84 years.
She performed admirably. Her influence pervaded the lives of her children and her children’s children.
Her lessons for living included, first of all, to love (and praise) God and family unconditionally. While you’re at it, better yourself. Work hard. Value and pursue education. Always look for the best in others; don’t criticize. Never complain. Think positively.
She wrote in her high school journal “…how small I am and how mean [insignificant] is my contribution to the civilization of the universe.”
I think maybe she was wrong. We never know how far our waves of influence can spread.
Although Carolyn lost her father when she was only a year old, she leaned on the love and strength of her mother and brother Art to grow into the studious, dedicated scholar and fine woman she became.
She loved science, reading, and writing — her passion for learning and her admiration for “God’s creation” continued throughout her lifetime. With support from her loving brother Art, Carolyn graduated from Whitman College. Carolyn then attended the University of Washington in pursuit of a master’s degree in psychology.
While at the UW, Carolyn met co-Husky William Langdon and they fell madly in love! (All because of a blind date set up by lifelong friends Jack and Gail Giseburt.) Her desire for “Mrs.” and her dream of starting a family trumped the “Ms.” option for her, and they married in 1950.
Carolyn and her husband Bill raised their family in Shoreline, where they were highly involved in the community and their children’s activities.
A Golden Acorn Award winner, Carolyn was active in Cub and Boy Scouts, Brownies and Girl Scouts, Toastmasters, PTA, the Republican Women’s Club, school libraries and Bethel Lutheran Church. She and Bill served as PTSA presidents at Shorewood High School.
After all four kids graduated from college (so Bill was able to retire!), Carolyn and Bill moved to Whidbey Island, where they became deeply involved in Trinity Lutheran Church and the South Whidbey Senior Center.
As Carolyn aged, dementia shrunk her world, but her core remained: she loved God, and often said that “faith, family and friends” were what mattered most. She never lost her admiration for the beauty of Puget Sound, the mountains, the trees and American flags waving in the wind. She never forgot love.
After her husband and caregiver Bill passed away in 2004, Carolyn moved to Marysville to be close to her daughter, where she faithfully attended Mountain View Presbyterian Church.
Carolyn is survived by her adoring family: son Lonnie of Los Angeles, Calif. (wife Joan, children Jason and Megan); son Scott of Mukilteo (wife Marilyn, children Kyle and Erin); son Reed of Brandon, Fla. (wife SuChin, children Reed Jr. and Jin); and daughter Melanie Kreiger of Marysville (husband Keith, children Colin and Luke). She also leaves her beloved sisters-in-law and their families: Shirley Smith Burch of Bothell and Tina Nelson of Colorado Springs, Colo.
The family offers a special thank you to Robin and Gregory Erke and the exceptional caregivers of April House in Marysville, whose loving care of Carolyn provided comfort to both her and her family during this difficult time.
Carolyn would want you all to remember to count your blessings on a daily basis. Give your family and close friends a warm smile and heartfelt embrace. If you are moved to offer a remembrance, she would encourage you to donate to the charity or cause of your choice — among her favorites were Children’s Hospital and Whitman College.
Carolyn’s life will be celebrated in a memorial ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 15 at Mountain View Presbyterian Church in Marysville.
Her ashes will be laid to rest next to her husband Bill’s at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 16 following the third service. Friends are welcome; a short reception will follow each ceremony.
