Doris Piper Lamberson

WILLIAMSBURG - Doris Piper Lamberson of Williamsburg died Jan. 31, 2002. She was born June 10, 1915, in Greenfield, Iowa, the daughter of Fred and Edna Garrett Piper. After graduating from high school in Mitchell, S.D., she and her family returned to Iowa. She received a degree in home economics from Iowa State and a degree in industrial design from Purdue University. After teaching school for several years in Lubbock, Texas, she began working for the Crosley Utilities Corp., designing kitchens. She became international sales representative for Crosley and then Philco Corp. In 1957, she married Ralph Lamberson in Switzerland. Afterward, she worked designing kitchens in New York City until the couple was sent to the Far East, Middle East and Europe. While overseas, Mrs. Lamberson designed the Gucci Villa in Italy. Because of a personal friendship with Tom Graves, then president of The College of William & Mary, and his wife, Zoe, and with the desire to live in a community with a college nearby, the Lambersons moved to Williamsburg in the mid-1970s. Here, Mrs. Lamberson continued her design work, adding some personal updates to the President's House, including a separate silver closet. The Muscarelle Museum became a major focus in her life. She was one of the founding members of the volunteer council for the museum, and continued to contribute time and works of art until her death. She is survived by her brother, Mansell Piper, and her husband's nieces, Delphia and Lindy, and their families. A memorial will be held in the spring. Plans are incomplete.