William DeSales Langley, most of you knew him as Bill, Billy, a select few as DeSales, I simply knew him as Dad.

My Dad was a hard working man who rarely complained. Most likely this was a result of a very difficult early life. My dad lost his dad, my grandfather, at the very young age of 13.

 As he often told me, and my Aunt Mary will verify, my dad and his dad were inseparable. Apparently this is genetic because we too were inseparable.

Fortunately, Dad had a special man that came into his life, William “Dump” Butler. Dump was a friend and mentor and together they would squirrel hunt, work on cars, plant a garden and generally learn about life.

Despite so much adversity as a young man my Dad persevered, pushed on and together with the help of my Mom made a good life for his family.

My Mom and I depended on Dad for so much. There were always projects to complete and tasks to accomplish. Those things seem to never end.

Although by no means the most formally educated man, my Dad was intelligent and somehow always seemed to have the right answers, even when those answers weren’t always what I wanted to hear. He was a loyal, faithful man you could always depend on.

Perhaps the most difficult part of losing my Dad has been everywhere I look and in everything I do, I see him. It’s as if he was involved with or has somehow touched every part of my life.

Dad loved to tell stories about the old days, many of them I have heard dozens of times. On occasion, I would say “Dad you’ve told me that story a hundred times” and he would reply “Someday you’ll miss my stories.” Once again he was right.

Dad had a passion for automobiles. In his younger years he enjoyed drag racing his 1940 Chevrolet Coupe at Aquasco and Budds Creek dragways. After getting married he and my Mom were active in the local Antique Car Club where they made many wonderful friends. Together my Dad and I attended numerous collector car events throughout the area.

In recent years he primarily satisfied his passion for automobiles through me, but above all else it was just about us being together.

Though he never said it to me aloud, I know my Dad was proud of me and what I have become.

- How do you get over losing your Dad?

- How do you get over losing your best friend?

- How do you get over losing both?

Dad, I will always love you and I will always miss you.

I'M Free

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free
I'm following the path God has laid you see
I took his hand when I heard his call 
I turned my back and left it all
I could not stay another day
To laugh, to love, to work, to play
Tasks left undone must stay that way
I found that peace at the close of the day
If parting has left a void
Then fill it with remembered joys
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,
O yes, these things, I too will miss
Be not burdened with times of sorrow
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow
My life's been full, I savored much
Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief
Lift up your hearts and peace to thee
God wanted me now, He has set me free

Bill was a life-long resident of Charles County, Maryland.  He lived in Bryantown for more than 58 years and in Hughesville for the last 10 years of his life.  He had many hobbies and interests.  As a child he excelled in baseball and soccer.  As a young man he enjoyed drag racing at Aquasco Speedway and Budds Creek Dragoway.  He won many trophies racing his 1940 Chevrolet Coupe, including the 9th Annual Mayland State Championship.  Later in life he became an avid collector car enthusiast.  He won numerous awards with his 1940 Chevrolet 2-Door Sedan including Antique Automobile Club of America national junior and senior awards.  His passion for cars was something he shared with his son Will.  Togeher they attended car shows, swap meets, and motorsports events.  One of his hobbies, woodworking, actually became his profession as a Master Cabinetmaker for the U.S. Senate where he worked for 27 years. 

Bill was born on July 12,1943 in LaPlata, Maryland at Physicians Memorial Hospital.  He was the son of John William Langley, Sr. and Margarent Catherine (Edelen) Langley.  His maternal grandparents were Margaret (Wilkerson) Edelen and Frances (Frank) Edelen.  His paternal grandparents were Martha Elizabeth (Thompson) Langley and William Langley.  Bill was the youngest of three children.  He had a sister Mary Catherine Langley (Coates) and a brother John William Langley, Jr.  Bill was married to Ann Morrow on September 25, 1971 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Bryantown, Maryland.  They had two sons William David Langley and Michael John Langley. A life time member of St. Mary's Church, Bill was laid to rest on February 14, 2012 in the parish cemetery in Bryantown.