Lloyd L. Lang
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Lloyd L. Lang, 77, of Bridgeport, departed this life Tuesday afternoon June 20, 2006 at his home surrounded by loved ones and several dedicated care givers after a 30 year battle with Parkinson’s disease.
He was born in Clarksburg, WV on October 9, 1928, a son of the late Robert S. and Ethel Hess Lang.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Crystal Wooddell Lang, whom he married on November 22, 1957.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three children and 10 grandchildren; son Rob Lang and his wife Dora, and their children, Rebecca, Cassandra and Logan, Sissy Dean and Joe Hitt; daughter Joy Larry and her husband Jay, and their children Emily and Matthew; daughter Suzy Cotter and her husband Tim, and their children Griffin, Cameron and Wesley; a brother, James R. Lang and his wife Kate, all of Bridgeport; and several nieces and nephews.
Lloyd was a graduate of Bridgeport High School, Class of 1946. After working at the family dairy farm, he began his career with Rish Equipment Company as an apprentice under the direction of his Uncle Jud Henderson. He then entered the United States Army and served his country in Germany as a master mechanic. Upon returning home in 1949 he returned to work at Rish Equipment where he eventually became their service manager.
In 1949, Lloyd and his brother Jim founded Lang Brothers, Inc., a construction and natural resources company. Over the span of 56 years the company completed many projects across the region in various capacities including surface and deep mining, oil & gas drilling and utility construction. Some of their completed projects are the Haywood / Lumberport Bridge, Route 98 bypass from Nutter Fort to the Clarksburg Water Plant, and the initial site prep to the United Hospital Center. More recently the company completed the Wheeling Creek Dam for the Soil Conservation Service and several miles of US 19 at Birch River. Following the floods of 1985 the company mobilized to construct the bridge at Rowlesburg and rebuild the Southbranch Valley Railroad through the Trough near Romney.
Mr. Lang was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in the late 70’s. Through the years he was a patient of Dr. Ludwig Gutmann at West Virginia University and worked together to develop treatments for people with the disease. Mr. Lang was involved in a study that eventually lead to the approval of a drug that remarkably helps the day to day lives of people suffering from Parkinson’s.
Lloyd’s “never quit” attitude touched many lives. His ability to identify and fix most any mechanical problem is a trait that few have and will be sorely missed. In addition Mr. Lang was always inventing ways to make his life with Parkinson’s easier. This is evident by the many contraptions he has devised and built.
Mr. Lang was one of the founding members of the Harrison County Parkinson’s Support Group, a member of the Bridgeport Bank Board of Directors and was honored by the America Society of Highway Engineers as their Man of the Year in 1993. He was a member of the Bridgeport United Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that contributions in Lloyd’s memory be made to either the Parkinson Patient & Family Support Group, 107 C’Anna Square, Fairmont, WV 26554 or to the West Virginia University Foundation for Parkinson’s Disease Research, School of Medicine / Development Office, PO Box 9008, Morgantown, WV 26506-9008.
Friends will be received at Burnside Funeral Home 607 S. Virginia Ave., Bridgeport from 6:00 – 8:00 PM Thursday evening, June 22, 2006 and again from 12:00 Noon – 8:00 PM on Friday June 23, 2006. The funeral service will be conducted at the funeral home on Saturday morning at 10:00 AM with Reverend Steven E. Dorsey presiding. Interment will follow in the Trinity Cemetery on Brushy Fork Rd., Bridgeport.
