Obituary

Lynas Darrel Lang, 84

Lynas Lang, affectionately known as Lang or Pa-Pa was born to Clyde and Beulah Lang in Culver, Kansas, August 22, 1914. He had eight brothers and two sisters.

At the age of two, the family moved to Ranson, Kansas. In the early 1930's, they moved to Wakeeney, Kansas, where he worked at a junk yard and attended school. At the age of 16, he went to work for Trego County, Kansas.

May 1, 1939, at the age of 23, Lynas married Anna Marie Garvin. To this union he was blessed with two children, Janet Ruth McKnight of Eads, and Eddie Lang of Holly.

In 1945, he moved his family to Eads, where he worked on the Eldridge Ranch for one year. In 1946, Lynas went to work for Kiowa County as a mechanic, heavy equipment operator and road supervisor. It was due to Lynas and all his hard work and devotion that brought the county roads we drive on today and the many years of delicious fair barbecues. In 1984, after 40 years of dedication, Lynas retired. It was at this time in his life when he became a full time hunter and Pa-Pa.

Lynas loved to hunt and visit. Lynas also loved dogs of all kinds. He could sit and tell greyhound stories all day. Lynas would meet his son, Eddie, early every Sunday morning and go coyote hunting. It would always bring a smile to Lynas= face to know that not only did his only son, Eddie, enjoy hunting, but his only grandson, Mardell, still hunts coyotes to this day.

On days Lynas didn=t hunt or go fishing, he was watching his grandchildren ride horses, having tea parties and playing a rough game of softball. After having tea and playtime with his girls, he would go to the truck stop to rest and have coffee. The truck stop was the place he would do his visiting with all his friends.

Another favorite past time of his was rodeos. When his grandkids took an interest in riding, he was right there to help them in any way, even if it was just cheering them on. Then it was back to the coffee shop to brag about what they had done.

Lynas became ill in 1992 and struggled with cancer and lung problems. Lynas fought to overcome his health problems. However, Lynas ran out of strength and succumbed his health and God=s will December 31, 1998 at the age of 84 years, four months and nine days.

Besides his surviving wife, Marie; children Janet and Wayne McKnight and Eddie and Natalie Lang, he had five grandchildren, Angie Hollen, Mardell McKnight, and Sommer, Savannah and Skyla Lang and four great grandchildren, Ty, Brandy, Mandy and Michael Hollen.

Lynas will be sadly missed by his family and friends.

Funeral services for Lynas Darrel Lang were held Monday, January 4, 1999, at 11:00 a.m. at the Brown Funeral Home Chapel in Eads with L.D. Nelson officiating. Betty Crow played the piano prelude and postlude, as well as accompanying Doris Lessenden as she sang ARoom at the Cross@ and APeace in the Valley.@ Wayne Singer, a special friend of Lynas=, read the obituary. Another close friend, Jimmy Bendorf, read a special tribute to Lynas that was written by Mary Marble. Serving as casket bearers were Jack Gentz, George King, Forrest Frazee, Gary Lang and Lonnie Lang. Serving as honorary casket bearers were Lynas= very good friends Lee Sheridan, George Crow, George Stoker, Roy Robertson, Roy Pearcey, Merle Frazee and Jimmy Bendorf. At the conclusion of the service at the funeral home, the large procession of family and friends accompanied Lynas to his final resting place in the Eads Cemetery. The procession was led by Harold McKnight in his ACoyote Chaser@ with his dogs. This is just as Lynas would have wanted it. After the final committal services, the family enjoyed a family meal provided by the ladies of the Rebekah Lodge.

Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Brown Funeral Home.