Ivan Langford

Ivan Langford, 90, a resident of Luverne, Alabama, passed away peacefully in his home on Sunday, January 5th, 2025, while surrounded by his family. Funeral services for Ivan will be held at 11 AM on Wednesday, January 8th, at Spring Hill South Baptist Church with Rev. Kenny Horn officiating. He will then be laid to rest beside his wife in the church cemetery there with Turners Funeral Home of Luverne directing.

Ivan proudly served his country with both the Alabama National Guard and the United States Navy. He then spent the next 35 years not only working with the water department for the City of Luverne but also volunteering with both the Luverne Fire Department and Rescue Squad. If only everyone was so driven to serve and uplift their communities as Ivan was, the world would most definitely be a far better place. However, he never did it for recognition but simply because he was such an outgoing and generous person in life that it simply came naturally to him.

At home, you'd usually find Ivan puttering around outside where his favorite thing was tending to his large and bountiful vegetable garden whose crop he freely shared with his family and friends. He loved to be outside so he also thoroughly enjoyed the times he spent at his favorite fishing spots or bird hunting. Above all, he was a devoted husband, father, grandfather (or "Little Daddy"), and great-grandfather. He was fortunate to have found the love of his life, Joyce, as a young man and they spent 65 years in wedded bliss...no doubt because he firmly believed in the old adage "happy wife, happy life"! Words cannot express how much he meant to all those who knew and loved him, especially for someone who brought so much love, brightness, and good humor into so many lives.

Ivan was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 65 years, Joyce Wells Langford; parents, Lewis Samuel & Gertrude Brunson Langford; and siblings, Bubba Langford, Helen Cherry, John Frank Langford, Betty Johnson, Margaret Knighten, and James Langford. He is survived by his children, Ken (Jane) Langford, Cindy (Mario) Ginebra, and Melanie (Greg) Foster; grandchildren, Kelli (Chris) Simpson, Aymee (Chris) Cruz, Lauren Ginebra, Allan (Kaitlin) Foster, and Adam (Tori) Foster; great-grandchildren, Jade Simpson, Kyra Simpson, Bella Cruz, Ellie Cruz, Katie Grace Cruz, Avery Foster, Carson Foster, Wesley Foster, Alley-Kate Foster, and Ayden-Brooks Foster about to make his appearance; brother, Bobby Jack (Jackie) Langford; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.

Active pallbearers will be Allan Foster, Adam Foster, Chris Simpson, Timmy Langford, Jason McManigle, and Merrill Sport.