Thomas Howard Langston, a life-long resident of the Springfield area, passed away on October 26, 2017. Tom was born in Springfield on September 24, 1950 to Rex Howard and Barbara (Fields) Langston. He graduated in 1968 from Parkview High School and attended Southwest Missouri State University. In 1980, Tom met the love of his life, Susan Caringer, at East Side Assembly of God Church, and on September 3, 1981, they married at his grandmother Zelda Fields’ home in Springfield.
During high school and college, Tom worked for Ed V’s Clothing Store, Ramey’s, Consumers, and Safeway grocery stores eventually becoming a produce and store manager. From 1981 to 1988, Tom was honored to become one of the first 100 employees of Bass Pro Shops where he worked as warehouse and traffic manager. In 1988 Tom began a 23-year career as vice president of real estate at Springfield Underground. Throughout his career, Tom was active in the community serving on several boards through his connection with the Springfield Chamber of Commerce. He was a member and graduate of Leadership Springfield Class 7 in 1992. As part of Leadership Springfield, he served on the Board Placement Committee from 1992 to 1994. Tom also served on the Leadership Springfield Board of Directors from 1995 to 1996 and served as the secretary/treasurer of the organization from 1997 to 1998. In 1994, he was recognized as one of the “’95 to Watch in ‘95” by Springfield Magazine. His experiences with Leadership Springfield led him to serve on the Maranantha Village Board of Directors from 1991 to 1994, and the City of Springfield Vision 20/20 committee from 1999 to 2000. One of his greatest pleasures was serving as a board member and vice chairman for the Springfield-Greene County Park Board from 1999 to 2002. Tom also enjoyed working with the Springfield Chamber of Commerce Students Go to Work Program from 1995 to 1999 and the Evangel University Students in Free Enterprise Advisory Committee from 2002 to 2004. His community service also included serving on the Springfield-Greene County Local Emergency Planning Committee from 2002 to 2010, and he was a Springfield Chamber of Commerce Community Task Force member from 2004 to 2011.
Tom loved God, and he loved his church. A highlight of his life was to be a part of the Executive Planning Committee of James River Church’s “I Love America” Fourth of July Celebration at Springfield Underground from 2000 to 2010. He was also honored to serve on the James River Church Board of Trustees from 2009 to 2016.
Tom was an athlete who enjoyed all sports and played college and semi-pro baseball as a catcher. He was scouted by the Los Angeles Dodgers but turned down a contract to play for the team. He was a life-long fan of the Kansas City Royals and was also a great football fan who loved his Kansas City Chiefs.
Tom was passionately loyal and had a wonderful sense of humor. He enjoyed a good laugh and never met a stranger. He loved making connections with others and was a great listener. Tom will be remembered as a wonderful husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, brother, son-in-law, nephew, and cousin. He was always calm regardless of the circumstances and had great wisdom. Tom was fearlessly protective of his siblings as a boy and his family as a man. He was humble and put the needs of others before his own. He was a compassionate man with great personal integrity who truly exemplified his dedication and commitment to being a follower of Christ through all his interactions with others. He was meticulous, well organized, and thoughtful in all his decisions. Friends and family remember him as being rock solid in a crisis.
Tom is survived by his mother, Barbara Vinsant; wife Susan (Caringer) Langston; three daughters, Heather Neal (Kevin), Bethany Zumwalt, and Emily Hollinger (Neil); two grandsons Skylar Neal and Lakin Neal; one granddaughter, Genevieve Hollinger; three sisters, Janice Meyer (Tim), Marybeth Ennis, and Judy Horton; one brother, James Langston (Debbie); several nieces and nephews, cousins, and many loving friends. Tom was preceded in death by his father, Rex Howard Langston, and his brother Ray Wesley Langston.
Visitation will be held on Monday, October 30, at 9:30 with a celebration of Tom’s life immediately following in Clark Chapel of James River Church in Ozark, MO. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations made to Convoy of Hope in honor of Tom’s love for those in need.