William Fred Lamar Jr.

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William Lamar Obituary

LAMAR, William Fred, Jr. 76, of St. Petersburg, died Jan. 13, 2010 at home with his wife & Hospice staff. He was born in Birmingham, AL. He attended the University of Alabama, receiving an A.B. in history and speech. He received a B.D. at Vanderbilt University, the S.T.M. and D. Min degrees at Eden Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. at St. Louis University. He served as chaplain in the U.S. Army & as a parish minister in Alabama. He served nine years as chaplain at the University of Missouri at Rolla, MO, and then became chaplain and professor of education at DePauw University in Greencastle, IN, where he served for 23 years. Along the way, he received a Danforth Foundation Fellowship and received the Baker & Asbury Awards for his outstanding leadership in the Methodist Church's higher education ministries. He was a pioneer in service-based learning, through which students served and reflected on their experiences. At DePauw University, he led over 2,000 students to serve in the Third World and to reflect on that experience. In 1983, he made a presentation in Rome at the Third World Conference on Disaster and Emergency Medicine. He liked to say he placed students in 21 time zones. Many of his former students remained in contact with him, including a group from the '70s, who, along with their families, meet every two years to serve a community need. Because of his love for young people and for higher education, he retired to St. Petersburg and joined the Academy of Senior Professionals at Eckerd College. He was predeceased by his first wife, Roberta. Survivors include his wife, Martha; his son, Jonathan, Jonathan's wife, Julie, and three grandsons from West Chester, OH; his stepdaughter, Barbara Martin and her husband, George; his stepson, Owen Parker, Jr.; a step-granddaughter and husband, & step-great-grand daughter; his brother, John Lamar and his wife, Joyce, and a niece and nephew. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to American Foundation for Children with AIDS, Attn: St. Mary's Mission Hospital Desk, 6221 Blue Grass Ave., Harrisburg, PA 17112; to Suncoast Hospice; or to Eckerd College, note: ASPEC Scholarship Fund. There will be a Celebration of Life at Pass-A-Grille Beach Community Church, Saturday, Jan. 30, 10:30 am.

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Published by Tampa Bay Times on Jan. 20, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for William Lamar

10 Entries

Glenda Busby Fowler Hinkle

January 14, 2025

My dear Cousin. FOREVER loved and missed.

Emily Cosby

February 9, 2010

I am deeply saddened by Fred's death. He and my late husband, Paul Cosby, both Birmingham natives, became good friends during the 1950's. They shared many long and deep theological discussions. We were there when he and Roberta married and then Fred was a groomsman in our wedding in 1956. The four of us became even closer when Paul and Fred attended seminary at Vanderbilt and we shared many joyful meals and hilarious times together. Fred baptized our first child, a daughter, and we celebrated together as our son and their Jonathan were born in the early 1960's while we were living not very far apart in suburbs of Birmingham. Even though we were later separated by great distance, we were always in touch through letters, phone calls, and especially visits whenever possible. We suffered with Fred through Roberta's long illness and death and rejoiced with him when he met and married Martha. We enjoyed a great visit with the two of them in February 2004 before Paul died suddenly less than three months later. Fred and I have continued to keep in touch since then through e-mails, letters, and long phone calls. I have always valued his deep faith and his servant ministry, his profound wisdom and his wonderful sense of humor. My heart goes out to Martha, Jonathan and Julie, and all the family. I pray that God's love will be very real to all of you as you grieve your great loss.

Nina Crawford

January 30, 2010

We will always remember him, full of so much life and hope, always a good story, enjoyed his preaching, he and Martha were rays of sunshine
He will be missed
Nina , Arthur Crawford
St. pete beach

Roger Boswell

January 26, 2010

I first met Fred Lamar in 1978, sandwiched in time between my IU Medical School graduation and my internship, which I had postponed for a year in order to work off some debt. I also wanted to work with several mission groups/projects I had come to know during my schooling, including Fred's Winter Term Mission (WTM) program at my undergrad alma mater, DePauw. My lasting first impression of Fred Lamar was his shoes - LARGE shoes.As I came to know him as an associate and a friend, it wasn't long until I realized that his intellect, dedication, Southern wit, and spiritual compass were more than sufficient to fill those shoes.

Fred and I worked together on medical side of the WTM program from 1978 to about 1987. As I am wont to do, I lost track of him and Martha once they left Indiana and moved to Florida. But these several decades haven't clouded my recollection of his trials and victories. Were the Lord willing, I feel like I could pick up with Fred just where we left off (a Fred-a-thon as they became known to his friends), not missing a beat. We would certainly have some long discussions, which can only be summarized here. Fred counselled and married my wife Pam and I in 1981. Fred and I co-authored an academic paper detailing the medical aspects of the DePauw Mission program, which was accepted for presentation at a conference in Rome in 1983. Some months later at his Greencastle home near the old observatory, he recalled the awkwardness of presenting this paper to a group of world renowned physicians (I am not one of these, and I couldn't go for other reasons). But he concluded this unusually emotional Fred-a-thon with his story of his meeting with The Pope (John Paul).

I was able to awkwardly help him during Roberta' illness at IU Hospital, where I was a senior resident in internal medicine at the time. We spent some long hours in her room and the cafeteria. When Roberta passed, we had a few conversations that have guided my approach to very ill patients to this day.

After I finished residency, I opened up a practice in Fred's hometown, Birmingham, AL. At first, this was coincidental as I was recruited by a friend from Methodist Hospital who had moved down there. But by then, the WTM program had been emulated at several schools throughout the country, including Birmingham Southern University, and I began to work with them on developing medical aspects of missions similar to those ran by Depauw. It turned out that our move was not entirely coincidental after all, especially since I was not a native southerner. It was the best move my family ever made. Pam and I met saw Fred and Martha several times after the move, but family and professional life intervened.

I became aware of Fred's passing several days ago when I curiously checked the depauw.edu website to see if there had been a DePauw team present in Haiti during the earthquake. I have vivid memories and quite a few emotional scars surrounding my DePauw trip to the slums of Port-au-Prince in 1980. Fred knew how to pick 'em. Truth be told, I never even log on to the depauw.edu website. Another God thing.

I pray that Fred's suffering wasn't great, and I know that he has a number of grieving family, to which Pam and extend our condolences. Fred also has a worldwide extended family who, over time, will learn of his passing and will, hopefully, record their recollections as am I. And I'm also sure that, at this particular moment, they're trying to find some very comfortable, very large shoes for Fred to wear.

(I have 2 movies (yes, movies) that I've written to DVD with a somewhat soothing guitar soundtrack. One is of the WTM trip to Cusapin, Panama in 1981. The other is from the next year's trip to Azpitia, Peru, 1982. Fred is on both of these films, his large feet featured prominently in a memorable scene trudging through a Panama swamp. I will try to FedEx a quantity of these to the Memorial Service. Additionally, for those reading this later, I can mail you copies of both DVD's whenever you'd like if you send me an email)

Bless Fred for All He Has Done for The World

Roger W. Boswell, MD, FACP. FACEP

Dallas, Texas

[email protected]

Rev. Dr. Douglas Cripe

January 24, 2010

Fred made an impact on my life while I was a student at DePauw in the early 80s. I volunteered in events in Greencastle sponsored by the chaplain's office and went on a mission trip to Honduras, which was an eye-opening experience for me. Now I am serving as a minister in Illinois and am teaching religion courses at McKendree University. Thanks for your ministry, Fred!

Glenda Busby Fowler

January 23, 2010

January 23, 2010
When I spoke with "Cousin" Fred back in the fall, he informed me of his illness. He made me promise not to cry or he would hang up the phone! I promised. But, I am afraid I have broken that promise now, dearest Cousin. Fred was such a special man. He was kind. He was loving, warm and intelligent. He was so very interesting to talk to and had so many experiences to share. As a child, I always admired him when we gathered at "Mom's" house for our Christmas parties. Then throughout life with his many humanitarian accomplishments and his sharing of his adventures and love of God whenever we had the pleasure of his visits back home as "Cousin" Bob and Polly Lamar continued the Christmas party tradition. I am so proud to say I am Fred's cousin and I will miss him terribly.

Martha and "Cousin" John, I grieve with you and your families. May God wrap his loving arms around you all and give you peace.

January 23, 2010

Well done, good and faithful servant!

Scott Alan Moon (DePauw Class of 1975)

Janet Acker

January 22, 2010

I was so deeply saddened to hear of Fred's passing. I was a student at DePauw University in the 1980's and very involved in the chaplains office programs and Winter Term in Mission. As is the case for many others I know, we were so dramatically impacted and inspired by Fred and his love and compassion. He changed our world and inspired the rest of us to follow suit. I feel privileged and honored to have known him and to have been inspired by him. My deepest sympathy to his wife and family...this deeply good man will be sorely missed by the world.

Norm Bungard

January 22, 2010

I was saddened to read of Fred's passing. He and Martha advised us in Pinellas Habitat for Humanity as we looked for ways to share the message of housing needs. His voice of experience born of his altruistic spirit helped us to find creative ways to raise awareness and funds alike. His work lives on in so many ways. My condolences go to Martha, his family and extended family. Norm Bungard

January 20, 2010

I could not have asked for a better Stepfather. He was a wonderful Father, grandfather, great-grandfather, husband and friend. Allowed my Mother to grow in ways she would have never imagined. Extremely wise and down to earth. I will miss him dearly. Barbara

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