Bill Langdon (formally, Lawton William Langdon, Jr.), was born in San Francisco, CA on June 29,1939 to Florence (Douglass) Langdon and Lawton William Langdon, Sr. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Bill attended college at San Jose State, Cal Poly and Santa Clara University before moving to Washington State to pursue a teaching credential at Central Washington State College. There, he met his wife of 53 years: Arleta (Knight) Langdon. After their marriage, Bill and Arleta moved back to the Bay Area where they lived for eight years before moving to Grass Valley in 1979.

Bill and Arleta were surprised with a son, Andrew, in 1981 and again with a daughter, Victoria, in 1985.

While pursuing his degree, Bill worked as a lifeguard, swim instructor, health food store clerk, and machinist. After college, he taught junior high in Washington State and worked as a realtor in the San Francisco Bay Area. Once settled in Nevada County, he pursued his natural talent and enjoyment of photography to develop a career as a photographer. He successfully carried out that career until his retirement in 2009, thanks to the support of the many organizations and individuals in this community. Bill most enjoyed taking pictures of children in the local schools, including Tall Pines and Union Hill. First Communion and Confirmation photos at St. Canice and St. Patrick’s were highlights, as were taking photos in Santa’s Workshop at the Nevada County Christmas Fair and in Foothill Flowers at Cornish Christmas, which he did for many years. He worked out of an office on Neal Street in Grass Valley in the early years of his career before moving his office home. While working, Bill attended daily mass at St. Patrick’s in Grass Valley. The family attended weekly mass at St. Canice in Nevada City.

Bill had many hobbies including weight lifting, gardening, an interest in classic cars, RVing, and photography. Most of all, Bill loved interacting with his family and the many friends he developed through his life. Interacting with other business owners in the community while working as a photographer was a highlight of Bill’s working life. When Victoria and husband Nick added grandchildren to the family in 2011 and 2013, they brought Bill great joy and many happy memories. In later years, he enjoyed travel with family (particularly if it was in the RV), frisbee, flying kites on the beach, and playing catch with his grandsons.

Bill passed away at the age of 85 in the evening of November 2, 2024, surrounded by his family at his home in Grass Valley. He is survived by his wife, Arleta, his sister, Patricia Albert, his children, Victoria Laiosa and Andrew, and his grandchildren, Isaac and Xander Laiosa.

There will be a funeral for Bill at 1pm on Wednesday November 20 at St. Canice Church: 317 Washington St., Nevada City, CA. There will be a rosary for Bill preceding the mass at 12:30pm.