Richard Lee Lambert Sr.

Richard Lambert was born in a coal camp in Harlan, KY to Tom and Bess Lambert. He had an older brother Thomas who was killed in a mine explosion. He also had a younger sister Carole St Clair. Richard went to Kermit HS where he met Helen Sluder, whom he married August 23, 1947 right after high school. He decided the coal mines were not a life for him early on so he enlisted in the Air Force. He became an instructor and joined the civil service teaching aircraft maintenance to pilots. His career took him to Amarillo, Wichita Falls, Nashville and Topeka. He retired from Sheppard Air Force Base. He and Helen divorced for 7 years before he reunited again with his high school sweetheart to take care of her. He spent more years in retirement than working and he loved that idea. He spent time in Dallas with his grandchildren Faith and Isaiah taking them for pizza every Sunday and attending ballgames and cheer competitions before he moved to Knoxville to live with his son Rick, daughter in law, Jamie and granddaughter Hannah after Helen died. He spent 20 years caring for Helen, when she was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's. His devotion was unwavering. He spent his final years living with Rick and Jamie in Tennessee, tending to the birds, going to the gym and enjoying McDonald's sundaes. He lived to be 92 and was never seriously ill or injured. He cared about self improvement and continual learning which he passed on to his children.