Phyllis Jean Lang

Phyllis Jean (Martin) Lang, 84, of Asheville, died Saturday, June 17, 2023 at Deerfield Retirement Community.

Born October 31, 1938 in Nebraska , she was the wife of the late Wayne Wilson Lang, her beloved husband of 63 years, and the daughter of the late Ross Raymond and Gladys Alma (Riggs) Martin. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Gary Martin. She is survived by a sister-in-law, Beverly Martin, and numerous friends and colleagues.

Raised on the edge of the sandhills in the small farming town of Elgin, she graduated from Elgin High School and received her B.A. from Nebraska Wesleyan. She went on to earn an M.A. from the University of Nebraska, and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois.

Phyllis married Wayne Lang on August 23, 1959. In 1962 they joined the faculty of MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois, where she taught in the English Department. In 1979 they moved to Asheville, where Wayne taught at UNC-Asheville. At that time, Phyllis was editor and then publisher of The Arts Journal, a magazine covering visual, literary, and performing arts in North Carolina. In 1999 Phyllis returned to teaching in the Mass Communication Department at UNC-Asheville and retired in 2000. She then researched and wrote historical videos highlighting the history of Western North Carolina. Phyllis and Wayne moved to Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community in 2016.

She and Wayne traveled extensively, visiting more than 50 countries and 48 states. They spent six months touring Kenya in a Land Rover, camping in the Kenyan National Parks. They spent six months touring Europe on rail passes. They spent another six months visiting Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific. Enthusiastic fans of professional golf, they spent two springs following the PGA Tour from California to Florida.

Phyllis was a member of Altrusa International and a long-time board member of Penland School of Crafts. She was a board member of the Friends of North Carolina Room in Pack Library. She read thousands of books, usually two or three per week, and especially enjoyed historical fiction and detective novels.

A celebration of her life will be held on Sunday, July 9, 2023 from 5 to 7 PM at Deerfield Retirement Community.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Resident’s Fund, Deerfield Retirement Community, 1617 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville, NC 28803.

Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.