Newport man lived a life at the helm

DONALD LANGILLE

* BORN: July 31, 1924

* DIED: Sept. 6, 2005

* SERVICES: Held for family and friends

* SURVIVED BY: His wife, Katie Langille; his sister, Jeanne Williams; his daughters, Patsy Wynne and Annette Pattison; three grandsons; and one great-grandson

There’s a photograph pinned to poster board in Katie Langille’s living room that looks like it’s a clothing advertisement from the 1950s.

A handsome, smiling couple is staring into the camera, seemingly posing for a beauty shot. Those pictured are Langille and her husband, Don; they were an all-American pair who made their home in Newport Beach.

Neither ever modeled or even considered the career. But that’s not to say Don Langille wasn’t into dressing fashionably.

For just about any occasion, he wore a pressed, blue-collared shirt with slacks.

He played sports, watched sports, helped young neighbors with woodworking projects and loved nothing more than to man the grill.

“If anything, he was the most masculine person I’ve ever met,� said Patsy Wynne, Langille’s daughter.

Don Langille died Sept. 6 of a heart condi- tion. He was 81.

Katie and Don Langille were born in the same hospital in Pasadena and attended the same high school. One day after class, he began courting her in the hallway.

They dated and were married in 1946, the year Don Langille returned from his service as a Navy pilot during World War II.

Like many men of his generation, Don Langille had only one employer during his career. He began as a service representative for Pacific Bell and retired 30 years later as a division manager.

The job moved him throughout California, and the couple finally settled in Newport Beach, where they lived for about 40 years.

Don Langille made the most of living by the water. He enjoyed deep-sea fishing and sailing.

“He loved water sports,� Wynne said. “He was very athletic, but he was quiet about his accomplishments.�

Don Langille, 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds for most of his life, played tennis and boxed competitively.

When company was over at his house, Don Langille often grilled steaks on the patio.

“He had a sense about cooking,� Katie Langille said. “He always knew when the meat was done.�

Grilling was secondary when Don and Katie Langille took off on one of their three-month trips in their GMC motor home.

He was president of the Pacific Cruisers, a group of motor home owners who often traveled together and held rallies across the country.

“He used to tell us it would have been fun to be a truck driver,� Wynne said. “The GMC became his truck.�

They towed a 1968 Volkswagen bug behind the trailer and took the car during short jaunts.

“He liked being in the driver’s seat,� Katie Langille said.

Health problems prevented Don Langille from taking the trips in his latter days. He cut back on grilling and couldn’t play sports. But one thing remained the same.

“A few months ago, dad told me, ‘I need a pink shirt.’� Wynne said. “So I bought him one. He still wanted to look fashionable.� 20051016iof658kn(LA)Don Langille