Paul James "Jim" Lang

Age 89, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, March 13, 2016 attended by his wife Carmel, following a valiant struggle with Alzheimer's. Jim was born June 7, 1926 in Laudonville, Ohio. A World War II veteran, he proudly served from 1944 to 1946 with the U.S. Army 35th Infantry Division, 767th Tank Battalion, as part of the occupation forces in Japan. Following discharge, he moved to California in 1947 to enroll in the Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, from which he graduated in 1949. Jim met his sweetheart Carmel at the Gunsett Academy of Dance in early 1953 and they were married in December of that year. They spent many enjoyable evenings sharing their mutual love of dance giving ballroom demonstrations and performing floor shows at the Hotel Mar Monte. Jim was employed by, and served faithfully in numerous capacities in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He and Carmel were sealed in the Church's Los Angeles Temple. They raised their four children in Santa Barbara, and celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary last year.

Jim especially loved traveling and he and Carmel shared many trips to various locations around the world, including a return to Japan to introduce Carmel to the locations where he had served in World War II. He also had a special fondness for the Hawaiian Islands which he and Carmel visited numerous times. Jim's other passions were visiting and playing with his grandchildren, and giving anonymous service to those in need.

He is survived by his wife Carmel, four children; Jim Lang (Darlene) of Las Vegas; Laura Dunn (Jon) of Santa Barbara; Karen Hoffman (Will) of Highland, Utah; Sharon Hamblin (Mark) of Mesa, Arizona; and stepson Bill Chalk (Joy) of League City, Texas; 23 grandchildren, and 36 great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held at the chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2107 Santa Barbara Street, at 11:00 AM, Friday March 18. Interment will follow immediately afterward at the Santa Barbara Cemetery.

The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the doctors and nurses of Hospice Santa Barbara and the private nursing caregivers who attended Jim. In lieu of flowers a donation can be made to Hospice Santa Barbara.