Barbara Lang

Life released Barbara Barr Lang on Friday morning, Aug. 18, 2017. She died in her apartment at The Springs in Missoula, following years of declining health.

Barbara was born on March 2, 1932, in Blairsville, Pennsylvania, a small town 40 miles east of Pittsburgh. She was the older of the two daughters of R. Wallace Barr and Myra Rhoads Barr.

Barbara left Blairsville to attend Geneva College where she studied to become a medical technologist. At Geneva she met and, in 1952, married Lawrence Kuhn. From that union of 21 years came five children. Barbara and her family lived in Pittsburgh for five years before moving to Hermitage, Pennsylvania, where Barbara lived for 32 years.

Barbara moved to Norfolk, Virginia, in 1989 and married Louis Lang in 1991. Lou died in 2004 but Barbara stayed in Norfolk until she moved to Missoula to be close to family following a stroke in 2012.

Barbara returned to school while raising her children, graduating with a degree in biology from Youngstown State University. “Stubborn or determined” (her words) she later earned a master’s degree in environmental health from Old Dominion University at age 60. Most of Barbara’s working career was spent as a respiratory therapist in large hospitals in Youngstown and Norfolk. After retirement she worked as an educator at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center.

Besides her lifelong learning endeavors, she enjoyed sewing, needlework, music and reading. She was an active parishioner and choir member at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Norfolk for many years.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Nancy, and two grandsons. She is survived by her children Keith (Wendy) Kuhn of Missoula, Elizabeth Kendzor of Edmond, Oklahoma, Lawrence (Maureen) Kuhn of Bloomingdale, Illinois, Peter (Alethea) Kuhn of Rolling Meadows, Illinois and Jonathan (Jodi) Kuhn of Richmond, Virginia, nine grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

A memorial service for Barbara will take place on Monday, Aug. 28, at 11 a.m. at Holy Spirit Episcopal Church, 130 S. Sixth St. East, Missoula, with lunch following in the parish hall. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the UM Celebration Brass Quintet Scholarship Fund established In Phillip Kuhn’s memory (c/o University of Montana Foundation, P.O. Box 7159, Missoula, MT 59807) or to a charity of your choice.