Dr. Langstaff Died Thursday-Word of his Death Received From His Daughter, in Winnipeg, Canada-Practiced Here 27 Years

S. W. Chambers received a telegram last Thursday morning of the sudden death of Dr. G. A. Langstaff that morning. The word came from his daughter, Louise, Mrs. W. J. Long, of Winnipeg, Canada. A letter followed saying the funeral would be held on Saturday and burial would be in a cemetery up there, since his wife is up there and they had planned to make their future home near their daughter. No further particulars were given but she promised to give them after the funeral was over.

Dr. Langstaff left here only about two months ago for Winnipeg, having leased his office building and bungalow to Dr. Raymond B. Burr for two years and turned over his practice to him. Mrs. Langstaff left here June 8th but the doctor remained to complete the bungalow by the side of his office and to do what collecting he could before he went so far away.

They came to Blair April 26th, 1900, so had completed twenty-seven years of the practice of his profession here. On May 8th he had completed just fifty years as a physician, having been graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, of Toronto University. He must have been at least 25 years old at that time, so was about 75 years of age at the time of his death.

Dr. Langstaff always stood high in his profession and many friends will regret that he has been called out of life so soon after he had retired and hoped to have at least a few years of quiet enjoyment. He was secretary of the Washington County Medical Association ever since the organization was started in Dr. M. D. Bedal’s office back in 1904. He had been both city and county physician for many years.

He went to Winnipeg to live with his daughter, whose husband died in 1923 and left her with six children to raise. George is 16, Paul 14, a pair of twins, John and James are six with two older daughters, Priscilla 22 and Jean 19. Mr. Long was in the real estate business and Mrs. Long has continued it successfully since his death.

Besides his wife he leaves three children, Mrs. Long of Winnipeg, Canada, Charles and Harold, both of Pittsburg, Pa. both are with the Western Penn. Power Co. Charles in the construction department and Harold does office work, having fourteen men under him.

Mrs. Long lives at 229 Glenwood Crescent and has her office at 165 Kelvin St. Elmwood.

#2-Published in the Enterprise October 27, 1927

Dr. G. A. Langstaff, who was identified with the medical profession in Blair for twenty-five years, passed away last Thursday morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Louise Long of Winnipeg, Canada.

On May 8th of this year, Dr. Langstaff rounded out fifty years of active practice in his profession half of which were spent in Blair and feeling that he had done his share he decided to retire and accordingly sold his practice to a younger man and after closing up his business affairs he joined his wife at the home of their daughter, Mrs. Long in Winnipeg.

Dr. Langstaff was born and reared in eastern Canada and came of a family of physicians.

He was a man of studious turn, a real gentleman always, and has many friends in the county who sincerely mourn his passing at a time when with his wife and daughter and family he could take more time for the things that he loved best. He had remarked just before leaving Blair that he was going to Canada and help his daughter rear her little family of boys who were bereft of a father’s care and love a few years ago.

From its organization he had been a member of the Washington County Medical Association and before leaving the county that body gave a farewell party making him the guest of honor.

Beside his wife he leaves to mourn his passing, his daughter, Mrs. Louise Long, of Winnipeg, Canada and sons, Harold and Charles of Pittsburg, Penn., and a number of grandchildren. Also a host of friends and neighbors who regret to learn of his death and extend sympathy to his bereaved family.

#3-Published in the Blair Pilot November 2, 1927

Dr. Langstaff Found Dead-Heart Failure Was Evidently the Cause of His Death in Bed During the Night

Dr. Morris Nielsen received a letter yesterday from Mrs. W. J. Long giving the particulars of the death of her father, Dr. G. A. Langstaff, who faithfully served his community as physician for over twenty-seven years.

He had been about his work during Wednesday, October 19th, as usual. He had eaten his supper with the family and seemed as well as he ever did. He went to bed at about 9 o’clock and was found dead the next morning when he was called for breakfast. A physician was called and said he had been dead at least five hours.

He had a mild form of heart trouble, Dr. Nielsen having examined him before he left Blair and found there was trouble, but neither Dr. Nielsen or Dr. Langstaff thought it serious. But as is always possible with weakened heart it is liable to stop at any time.

The funeral was held on Saturday the 22nd of October, and burial made in the cemetery where his son-in-law, W. J. Long, has been resting now for four years. The bereaved wife and children have the sincere sympathy of their many Blair friends.

#4-27 Oct., 1927 - The Tribune

DR. LANGSTAFF DIES

Expires at Daughter’s Home in Canada Thursday Morning

S. W Chambers last Thursday received a telegram from Mrs. W. J. Long of Winnipeg, Canada, stating that her father. Dr. G. A. Langstaff, had died at her home that morning. A letter was also received from Mrs. Langstaff on Sunday, but it did not state how long Dr. Langstaff had been ill or what had been the cause of his death, but it stated that the funeral services were held at Winnipeg on Saturday afternoon.

The deceased was born in Canada, and after receiving his degree from the university at Toronto, he attended a medical college and received his diploma in 1877. For some time he practiced his chosen profession in Canada and on April 26, 1900 he came to Blair and set up a practice. On the 6th day of May last spring, he celebrated his fiftieth anniversary of his practice of medicine.

Last spring he decided to give up his life’s profession and go to Canada to be with his daughter whose husband had died about a year ago leaving her in charge of his real estate business. Mrs. Langstaff left the fore part of June, but the deceased remained in this city until the middle of August to dispose of his business interests here after which he drove to Winnipeg. He and his wife made their home with their daughter and the deceased had been assisting her in conducting her business.

Dr. Langstaff had always stood high in his profession in this city, and had served as both city and county physician for many years. He had been secretary of the Washington county medical association since its organization in 1904. He had gained a wide acquaintance throughout the county, and his death was a great shock to his many friends here.

He leaves to Mourn his loss besides his bereaved wife, a daughter, Mrs. J. W. Long of Winnipeg, Canada, and two sons, Charles and Harold, both of whom are engaged in business at Pittsburg, Penn. He is also survived by a brother-in-law, G. H. Crosby of Crowell Home in this city.

Dr. Morris Nielsen this week received a letter from Mrs. G. A. Langstaff in which she told how her late husband had died. According to the letter, Dr. Langstaff retired the evening preceding his death a little after 9:00 o’clock, feeling in his usual good health, and just failed to wake up. When the family realized the following morning that he was dead, they called in a physician who stated that the doctor had evidently been dead for about five hours when found, making the time of his death at about 1:00 or 2:00 o’clock in the morning. The remains were laid to rest beside those of his late son-in-law, W. J. Long, at the cemetery at Winnepeg, Canada.

Obituaries courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file at the Blair Public library.