Obituary of Rhoda Lange

Mrs. Rhoda Lange, 98, beloved widow of Doctor Stephan W. (Doc) Lange (DVM), mother of five, social worker and unabashed contrarian, died peacefully on August 6, 2014, surrounded by her family in the beautiful seaside town she loved. Born in Ontonagon, Michigan, she grew up in East Lansing where she attended Michigan State University, earned her BA degree in Social Work (1937) and captured the heart of her future husband; the couple married in 1938. The academic and career interests of a young veterinarian took them to St. Louis and Hannibal, Missouri, and College Station, Texas. After moving to Southern California in 1945, dad's private Veterinary practice took root and mom started her family while continuing her social work career. From 1959 to 1965, when dad was veterinarian at Al Marah Arabian Horse Farms near Bethesda, Maryland, mom worked for Montgomery County Social Services in Frederick. During the 1960s, she became a life-long advocate for the underclass and communities of color. Settling in Santa Barbara in 1965, mom became a caseworker for Santa Barbara County Social Services, assisting families and children in need, the elderly and the disabled. Following retirement in 1982, she employed her well-honed sewing and tailoring skills for custom alterations. She and dad became avid rock hounds, collecting specimens at jasper and geode localities, and supporting local events of the Santa Barbara's Mineral and Gem Society. Forever a lover of words and an avid book collector, she loved limericks, literature, biographies, the works of Virginia Wolf, Proust, Camus, Hemmingway; and, always, the New Yorker magazine. Inspired by Santa Barbara City College Continuing Education creative writing courses, she wrote scores of personal histories and recollections of herself, her family, "Doc", friends and the kids - a profound chronical of a life well lead. She loved everything English: British history, art, stately homes and gardens, Wedgewood, Welsh Terriers, and Samuel Johnson and the Oxford English Dictionary. In retirement, she eventually toured England, Wales, and Scotland, from Portsmouth to Edinburgh. She loved antiques, dolls, knitting and old lace. She loved Paganini, Pavarotti, and Leonard Cohen. Mom is survived by her five children, Stephanie George of Lula, Oklahoma; Stephen M. Lange of Phoenix, Arizona; Julie Lange of Santa Ynez, Pamela Lange of Ventura, and Peter C. Lange of San Rafael, California. The family wishes to thank the staff at Abundant Care and Visiting Nurses and Hospice for the love and care given to mom in her last years of her life. Arrangements are being made by McDermott-Crockett Mortuary. Faithful to her unassuming nature, she wanted no public services.