WORCESTER-Thomas R. Lang passed away peacefully at UVM Medical Center with his family by his side on May 30th, 2026. Worcester Vermont was where he felt blessed to make his home for all but sixteen of his eighty-five years. Tom was born in Montpelier, VT at Heaton Hospital on December 22, 1940, to Richard H. Lang and Marjory P. Lang. He lived with his family on Bailey Avenue until 1947 when his family moved to Worcester Vermont.

Moving to Worcester, VT was like taking a journey into paradise for Tom. Folks were friendly and there were wide open spaces to roam and explore. For Tom life in a two-room schoolhouse was exciting, especially on Fridays which were devoted primarily to art and music. Joining the Audubon Society while at school opened a whole new natural world to Tom.

In addition to the Audubon Society three other organizations enriched his life and provided building blocks for his future. The 4-H Club gave him a start in woodworking and basic carpentry skills. Boy Scouts provided a wealth of knowledge of the great outdoors and love of nature. Juvenile Grange supplied the background of social and agricultural knowledge.

Tom attended St. Michael’s High School in Montpelier, Vermont where he enjoyed managing basketball, volleyball and had a successful academic career. He was awarded a full scholarship to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). Unfortunately, GE was unable to honor this scholarship due to the company’s financial issues. In light of this, Tom joined the US Army Reserves where he stayed from 1959 through 1966.

While in the Army Tom achieved the rank of Sargeant, he also learned the basics for infantryman, intermediate speed radio operator and qualified as Sharpshooter and became a Drill Instructor.

Following Tom’s time in the Army he attended and graduated from the University of Vermont with a bachelor’s degree in economics. During his time at UVM he was active as a manager for the Catamounts basketball teams and a counselor. Most importantly he met his first wife Shaun Kirby from Rochester, Vermont, while attending UVM.

Tom and Shaun married in 1962 and eventually made their home at Tom’s old family homestead in Worcester, Vermont. Tom and Shaun had three children Melissa, Julia, and Roderick. Shaun passed away in their home at 56 years old in 1997 following a long illness. Tom often commented on how blessed he was to have shared his life with Shaun.

During Tom’s career he was employed as Superintendent of Transmission and Distribution at Washington Electric Co-op (WEC) in East Montpelier, Vermont for 19 years. Following his time at WEC he worked for Green Mountain Power Corporation as Manager of Purchasing. In his roles with these companies, he had many accomplishments that he was proud of such as helping to form the Northeast Public Power Authority (NEPPA) in Portland, Maine under the direction of Maine’s Senator Edmund Muskie. Tom was also a member of the Vermont Electrical Association (VEC) where he eventually became president.

Throughout Tom’s life he enjoyed many things. Working with the Worcester community was one of those activities. While in Worcester he worked as a Lister for ten years, he served on Worcester’s Board of Civil Authority and was a member of the Worcester Town Republican Committee. He also enjoyed singing, which he did in St. Augustine’s Church Men’s Choir, a Barbershop quartet, and during his time in the Army he sang in a Regimental Chorus. He also greatly enjoyed weekly meetings of the Worcester Choir group. (If you know, you know!)

All who knew Tom quickly learned of his love of the outdoors. He loved hunting, fishing, and growing his beautiful Christmas trees. His hunting and fishing would take him all over the state of Vermont. However, he spent most of his time on Lake Champlain, on the lakes, rivers and ponds of Central Vermont and the Rochester, Vermont area. As for his Christmas trees you could find Tom tending his tree farm, Balsam Acres, year-round. Balsam Acres brought him great joy.

For approximately fifty years Tom and his family would spend summer vacation at beloved Higgins Beach in Scarborough, Maine. In his later years he and his second wife Judith Gourlay Lang would find themselves taking extended winter vacations to Clearwater Beach, Florida. He had many happy memories with family and lifelong friends in both places.

Tom and Judy fell in love in 1998 and on November 29th of the same year they were married. They built a busy and loving life in Worcester. Their life together was full of happy times together with family and friends. The holidays were especially happy for Tom when he could enjoy having his family around him and he was grateful to share those times with his beloved wife by his side. It was easy to see the great love they shared.

Tom was predeceased by his first wife Shaun in 1997, also his parents and three brothers Stanley and Michael of Florida, and Steven of Worcester, Vermont. He is survived by his wife Judith, daughters Melissa Lang of Essex Junction, Julia DeRosia and husband David of Worcester, son Roderick Lang and wife Tami of Calais, Douglas Larence and wife Eileen of Massachusetts, Jeffrey Larence and wife Martha, also of Massachusetts, granddaughters Jessica DeRosia (St Albans), Callie Coffman (Essex Jct,) Abigail DeRosia (Worcester) , Ava Deblois (Calais), Ivy Larence (MA), Grace Larence (MA) and grandsons Kyle DeRosia and wife Anna (Barre), Connor DeRosia (Worcester), Alex Deblois (Calais) and Noah Larence (MA) and two great-granddaughters Kylie and Rebecca Petty (St. Albans), his sister Margaret Smith and husband Steven of Worcester, brother Mark Lang and wife Marsha of Montpelier and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

There will be no calling hours at the wish of the deceased. A memorial service will be held at the Worcester United Methodist Church on August 22, 2026, at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Worcester United Methodist Church, Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, or the Worcester Historical Society.

Arrangements are in the care of Guare & Sons Funeral Home in Montpelier.

Those wishing to express online condolences may do so at: www.guareandsons.com