James J. Lambert Sr.

02/20/1924 - 05/14/2011

LAMBERT, James J., Sr.

Passed away peacefully at home on May 14, 2011 in Spokane, Washington. He was born June 20, 1924 in Lewiston, Idaho to John and Mary Jane Lambert. Jim was a standout athlete and graduated from Lewiston High School. He was the last surviving member of the 1939 Lewiston American Legion team that won the state title. He traded in his athletic gear for a military uniform and enlisted in the Marines where he served in the Pacific. He was involved in several battles, the most notable being Iwo Jima where he sustained casualties and was awarded the Purple Heart. Jim married Virginia Osborne"The prettiest girl on the praire." in 1947 and graduated from North Idaho College of Education in Lewiston, ID with a teaching certificate. He taught in Wallace, ID for two years and moved to Ewan, Washington where he was principal for 12 years. In 1964, he and Virginia, moved their family to LaCrosse, WA where Jim was the elementary school principal until his retirement in 1985 after which he and Virginia moved to Spokane. Jim was an avid sports fan and enjoyed working in his yard.
He is survived by his three sons and their wives: Mike and Kathleen of Redmond, WA, John and Judy of Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, and Jim Jr. and Karen of Kodiak, Alaska. Survivors also include five grandchildren: Matt, Allison, Jack, Gabrielle, and Dan. Jim was preceded in death by his parents and by his sisters Betty and Margaret.
Jim served as a volunteer at The Ronald McDonald House and The Sacred Hear Medical Center. He was a parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral.
Mass of Christian burial will be on May 23rd at 11:00 am and will be celebrated at St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church, 633 5th Avenue, Lewiston, ID. Inurnment will be at a later date.
Remembrances can be made to LaCrosse Dollars for Scholars, P.O. Box 258, LaCrosse, WA 99143 or to The Ronald McDonald House, 1015 West 5th Ave., Spokane, WA 99204.