H. Keith Langdon, Class of 1959
H. Keith Langdon (the Joke List Guy), 87, of Grove City, Ohio, passed away Sept. 2, 2023. Keith was born Sept. 2, 1936, to the late Paul V. and Julia June Duncan O’Rourke in East Liverpool. He was raised by his great-uncle and -aunt (Frank and Clarissa Given) in East End. A 1954 graduate of East Liverpool High School (ELHS), he was a lifelong member of its alumni association. He graduated from Muskingum College where he met his wife, Margret A. Dick. They were married Aug. 27, 1960, and settled in East Liverpool where they raised their family.
Keith was involved in multiple churches over the years including Grace Presbyterian, Chester Church of the Nazarene, Etruria Church of God and First Presbyterian Church in Grove City. Lest there be any confusion, Keith was a Calvinist by faith. He served on the board of directors of the Beaver Creek Presbyterian Church and the board of Tri-State Area Teen World.
A beloved speech and English teacher for 36 years at ELHS, Keith directed numerous plays and musicals along with his childhood friend Jim Martin. He was director of Thespian Troupe 319 and sponsor of the Keramos Echo Newspaper. After retiring from ELHS in 1995, he taught English and Composition at the Ohio Valley College of Technology. His teaching career spanned a total of 50 years! He brought joy and humor to people’s lives by distributing his joke lists wherever he went. Everyone looked forward to receiving their copy of the “Langdon List.” He was a talented piano player who played by ear (never learning to read music) and loved sharing his gift of music with others. Combining his two gifts of music and humor, he performed a Victor Borge-style comedy piano routine for various organizations and church events.
Keith was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 60 years, Margret A. Langdon (Dick). He is survived by his sister Marilyn J. Wagner (Langdon) of East Liverpool; children Kevin S. Langdon (Shelley) of Danville, Ohio, Karen G. Yoder (Glen) of Orient, Ohio, and the Rev David E. J. Langdon (Dawn) of Ashland, Ohio; grandchildren Joshua T. K. Langdon (Anna), Amanda R. Davidson (Matt), Thomas J. Wilson, Alexander R. Langdon (Emily), Melissa K. Wilson, Nathan R. Langdon, Jonathon D. Langdon; great-grandson Oliver M. Langdon.