Arthur Joseph Langlois

Arthur Joseph Langlois, 92, of Buckingham's Choice in Adamstown, died Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009, of complications related to Parkinson's disease.

Born June 3, 1917, in Racine, Wis., he was the oldest son of Norbert and Mary (Young) Langlois. He attended parochial and public schools in Racine, graduating from Washington Park High School.

Mr. Langlois served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and trained as a chief aerographer's mate. He was attached to FRUPAC (Fleet Radio Unit -- Pacific) for 30 months as a cryptanalyst (codebreaker). During his service at FRUPAC, the staff was secretly awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. In May 1945, he was transferred to a communication intelligence unit in Washington.

Upon returning to Wisconsin, Mr. Langlois completed his Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The last 28 years of his career were spent at SC Johnson of Racine, Wis. He retired in 1982 as president of Porelon Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of SC Johnson, located in Cookeville, Tenn.

After his retirement, Mr. Langlois was appointed adjunct professor of management at Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, teaching there for several years. He also served on the board of directors of the following organizations: Porelon Inc., the Bank of Putnam County in Cookeville, the Tennessee Independent Colleges Fund and the College of Business Foundation of Tennessee Technological University.

Upon moving to Maryland in 1989, Mr. and Mrs. Langlois resided in Walkersville. He moved to Buckingham's Choice in 2000.

He was a lifelong member of the Racine Yacht Club and was an avid sailor on Lake Michigan. His racing accomplishments included medals for first, second, and third overall in the annual Chicago-Mackinac event.

Mr. Langlois was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Marion Hood Langlois, of Racine.

He is survived by his four children, Geoffrey Langlois and wife, Valerie, of Madison, Wis., (three grandchildren, three great-grandchildren), Christopher Langlois and wife, Jean, of Menomonie, Wis., (six grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren), Elizabeth Dobles and husband, Tom, of Hilton, New York (two grandchildren), and Harriet Langlois and husband, Louis King, of Ijamsville (three grandchildren, one great-grandchild). He is also survived by one brother, Edwin Langlois of Racine, Wis.; and two sisters, Rita Curty of Racine, Wis., and Irene Scott of Houston, Texas.

Mr. Langlois was especially grateful to the staff at Buckingham's Choice for the many kindnesses shown to him during his residence there, and his family wishes to acknowledge the outstanding and compassionate care he received.

Visitation: See above information

Services: Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 4, at St. Timothy's Roman Catholic Church, 8651 Biggs Ford Road, Walkersville. Interment will be in Resthaven Memorial Gardens, Frederick.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Buckingham's Choice Resident Assistance Fund, 3200 Baker Circle, Adamstown, MD 21710 or the Marion Hood Langlois and Arthur Joseph Langlois Endowed History Scholarship, Tennessee Technological University, P.O. Box 5047, 1 William L. Jones Drive, Cookeville, TN 38505.