Walter I. Lang
January 15, 1924 - September 12, 2014
AE Crandall Hook & Ladder Company; Allegany County Volunteers Firemen’s Association;  Allegany County Chief’s Association.

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Walter I. Lang, 90, passed away Friday (Sept. 12, 2014) at Jones Memorial Hospital, following a lengthy illness.

Mr. Lang was born on Jan. 15, 1924 in Boston, Mass. to Walter W. and Bertha O. (Ives) Lang. He earned his Bachelor’s of Physics from MIT in 1945 and later received his Masters of Science in Physics from Boston University. On Oct. 9, 1946, at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church in West Roxbury, Mass., he married Jean Buckingham, who predeceased him on Oct. 4, 2012.

Walter was a professor at Alfred University from 1945-1949. He transferred over to SUNY at Alfred in 1955, where he became Chairman of the Physics Department and Chairman of the Engineering Science Curriculum; ultimately retiring as Professor of Civil Engineering Technology in 1990.  He was granted Professor Emeritus status from SUNY at Alfred, in honor of his long and distinguished career. Previously, he was a research engineer for Shell Oil Co. and Olin Industries in Ill. from 1945-1949.

Walter was also involved in the Summer ASEE-AEC programs at Penn State, the Argonne National Lab at North Carolina State University and co- directed two summer NSF institutes at SUNY @ Stony Brook. He was instrumental in establishing the NSF grant for the Alfred State Hydraulics Laboratory.

Walt is survived by three sons, Richard S. (Laurie H.) Lang, John (Lisa J.) Lang and Don (Maryann C.) Lang, all of Alfred; one daughter, Rebecca Lang-Graves of Alfred; 11 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and two nephews, Steve Arnold and David Arnold.

In addition to his wife of 66 years, he was predeceased by a sister, Lois A. Arnold, a brother-in-law, Richard Arnold and a niece, Shirley Richards.

Walt was a life member and past president of the AE Crandall Hook & Ladder Company as well as past president of Allegany County Volunteers Firemen’s Association. He was a member of the Allegany County Chief’s Association. Additionally, he was a former NYS fire instructor, deputy fire coordinator, fire advisory board member and trustee of the WNYVFA where he served 9 terms as its treasurer. For 13 years, he was commissioner of the Cuba Lake District; several as its board chairman and also served as a trustee for the Fireman’s Home on the Hudson.

Walter enjoyed photography, playing bridge, travelling and dancing with his wife Jean, mowing his lawn and plowing snow.

There will be no prior visitation. A private memorial service will be held at Alfred Rural Cemetery at the convenience of the family.

Arrangements are under the direction of Baker-Swan Funeral Home in Andover. 

Memorial contributions in Walter’s name may be made to AE Crandall Hook & Ladder Co., 5 S. Main St., Alfred, NY 14802.

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