James Robert Lang

May 1, 1941 - August 1, 2023

James Robert Lang, beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend, and child of God, died on August 1, 2023. Jim was born in Pottsville, PA to Henry and Permilla Lang. He earned his bachelor's degree at Penn State University and served as an officer in the US Navy for several years after his graduation. He later obtained his master's degree at Northeastern University and his Ph.D. in Business at the University of Massachusetts. Beginning in 1976 Jim was a professor of Business, first at the University of Kentucky and then at Virginia Tech, where he co-founded and was inaugural director of the Business Leadership Center. He retired with Emeritus status in 2011.

Surviving are his wife Lois Lang; daughter Jennifer Lloyd and granddaughter Eleanor; daughter Alison Barton and son-in-law Ben Barton and grandchildren Nathaniel, Juliet, and James.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 26 at 10 a.m. at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, 600 Prices Fork Road in Blacksburg. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Lang-Daubert Scholarship Fund (#860643) at Virginia Tech, or to Luther Memorial Lutheran Church's Music Ministry Fund.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Roanoke Times on Aug. 20, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for James Lang

Sponsored by McCoy Funeral Home - Blacksburg.

6 Entries

Marc Dollinger

September 6, 2023

Condolences from Mimi and I. Jim was a mentor to me when I arrived at UK. He might have kept me out of trouble a few times, but he would never let me know. Jim was most importantly a friend.

The funniest thing he ever did was calling me and asking me to look after Jennifer when she was at IU. no child was going to let her father's friend "look after" them. But we did become friends with Jennifer and Eleanor in later years.

Jim will be missed.

Larkin Dudley

August 9, 2023

Jim contributed so much to Virginia Tech and to the community of Blacksburg. He was such a kind and generous man with a great sense of humor. I hope good memories will comfort Lois and the family whom he loved so much. Larkin Dudley

Joan Moore

August 9, 2023

I had the pleasure of working with Jim for many years at Pamplin. He was such a wonderfully kind gentle. Knowing him was an honor reserved for those very special people who touched our lives.
Condolences and prayers to his beloved wife and family.

Wanda Smith

August 8, 2023

Jim was a beautiful person, and he was a joy to know. I have so many precious memories of him and his special sense of humor. We often pranked one another as we worked through challenging work and community projects.

While he encouraged me to be the best I could be, he also reminded me to take time to enjoy life too. Watching him enjoy retirement was an inspiration. He really knew how to `live´. For example, I loved watching him and Lois `training´ for their extensive travels by walking all around Blacksburg.

We have all lost on of God´s special spirits.

May you find comfort in knowing he made a difference in the lives of many.

D.E.Hatfield

August 7, 2023

I have long admired Jim and shall miss him. He taught me many things-mostly to work hard but enjoy the little things. He was famous for loving to pull fun pranks, and I was a great target for many of these (often he didn´t know I knew it was him).... He also cared about the community, working with Dr Wanda Smith and others to foster and advise an entrepreneurial program in Roanoke called "Total Action Against Poverty". Few knew of this side of him, and he seemed to prefer it.

Jim will never really be gone, as he has touched so many lives. We miss him because we felt his gifts.

I look forward to seeing his smile again, a little further on up the road...

Alison Barton

August 6, 2023

Memorial service for James Lang will be held on Saturday, August 26, 10:00 am at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, Blacksburg, VA.

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