Stella Emma Lang went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, April 29, at Pine Ridge Extended Care Center in Pagosa Springs. Stella was born March 3, 1929, in Glenwood Springs, Colo. Stella was preceded in death by husband Raymond Lang, who passed away July 4, 2002, in southern California. Ray and Stella were married for over 56 years. Stella and Ray owned an A&W Drive-In restaurant in John Day, Ore., for most of their career and it was there where they raised their children.
Stella was always very involved in her church and kept busy ministering to young children in Sunday school, recording radio programs with young people and serving with women in Bible studies. She would often host visiting pastors and missionaries passing through their small town.
After fighting a bout of ovarian cancer in 1991, Stella and Ray relocated to southern California that year. She stayed busy in church ministries and always had a heart for sharing the love of the Lord with others.
She followed her daughter and son-in-law, Venita and Dan Burch, to Pagosa in 2008 and soon became involved in several ladies Bible studies in town. She spent several years volunteering at the Pagosa Pregnancy Support Center and has had a lasting impact on many young women and families in this community.
Stella leaves behind three children: Ron Lang, of Portland, Ore.; Stan Lang, of Tucson, Ariz.; and Venita Burch, of Pagosa Springs. She also leaves behind nine grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren (two of which are on the way).
A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 16, at 1 p.m. at Pagosa Bible Church, 209 Harman Park Drive, Pagosa Springs (731-3120). In lieu of flowers, donations to the Pagosa Pregnancy Support Center (PPSC) in Stella’s name would be much appreciated. You can contact PPSC at 602 S. 8th St., P.O. Box 5437, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 (264-5963).
