Anna Marietta Evans Langston

Anna Marietta Evans Langston Anna Marietta Evans Langston, 88, of Austin, died peacefully in her home on December 29th, 2012, surrounded by her loving family. Marietta was born in 1924 in a two-room house on a farm near Lindsay, Oklahoma, to Albert and Lydia Graham Evans. As a child, during the depths of the Great Depression, Marietta worked alongside her family on their farm, located near the edge of the Dust Bowl in central Oklahoma. She helped with everything from harvesting broom-corn to plowing with a team of mules, as well as walking many miles to a two-room schoolhouse during the week. Later, she taught school herself, before attending the University of Oklahoma, where she graduated with a minor in Latin and a degree in English Literature. At OU she also met her future husband, Wann Langston Jr. They were married one year later, in 1946. In a few years the couple moved to Berkeley, CA, where Wann worked on his Ph.D. and Marietta was a loan supervisor in the UC Library. In 1953 their first child, Karen, was born. Soon the family moved to Canada, where Wann had accepted employment as Vertebrate Paleontologist for the National Museum of Canada. Another child, Sandra, followed shortly thereafter. The family moved to Austin, Texas in 1962. Marietta was a lifelong gardener, growing beautiful flowers as well as wonderful tomatoes and other vegetables. She never saw a plant that didn't need rooting, re-potting, or planting. Also a passionate reader, she studied many subjects widely and deeply, beginning with economics, cultural anthropology, modern Greek, and the great literary classics; later in life she concentrated more on national politics and political philosophy. She was past-president of the University Lady's Club and enjoyed participating in their book group as well Great Books, and others. Marietta was a loving wife, mother and grandmother, and a wonderful friend. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Wann Langston Jr., of Austin; her daughters Karen Langston (Corrales, New Mexico) and Sandra Langston (Bernalda, Italy); her son-in-law Francesco Alianelli, and grandchildren Stefano and Roberto Alianelli, also of Bernalda; and her sister Irene Broadman and brother Charles (Chuck) Evans. The family would like to express their gratitude to the compassionate caregivers at Lighthouse Hospice, as well as Visiting Angels. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 19, 2013 at Cook-Walden Chapel of the Hills Funeral Home in Austin, Texas Marietta Evans Langston will be laid to rest in the Purdy cemetery, near Lindsay Oklahoma, on Friday January 4 at 2 PM. Condolence may be made at www.cookwaldenchapelofthehills.com