Jim Lambert

1937 - 2015

(News article) SWANTON - Jim Lambert, 77, who made family and community his focus through years of coaching and volunteering, died Monday in Lakes of Monclova Health Campus.

He was recovering from a heart attack, but the cause of death was lung cancer, his son Jimmy said.

Mr. Lambert, a one-term member in the 1970s of Swanton Village Council, was 2013 grand marshal of the Corn Festival. In 1999, he was co-chairman of a campaign to revive the event, which after a 50-year run had been on hiatus since 1958.

"He was a natural organizer," his wife, Betty, said.

He had fond memories of the festival from childhood.

"When you get people who've been around a lot of time, they like to remember the older days. And you know, there was a lot of good things about those days," Mr. Lambert told The Blade in 1999. "We [want] to make the community aware of things, to get community involvement, community pride ... When you have that, you have a much better community."

A better community resulted from his efforts.

"He put his heart and soul into this town. It was unbelievable," said Jack Bloom, 82, a friend and a men's softball teammate. "He'd been a leader ever since I've known him."

Mr. Lambert coached youth baseball and basketball teams with characteristic calm. He made sure that the less-than-gifted athletes still felt a part of the team.

"He was not a yeller. He led by example and talking," son Jimmy said.

His sons played sports at Swanton High School. His daughters were cheerleaders. "He went religiously and happily to every doggone event that existed," his son said.

Mr. Lambert was a Swanton High School Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, recognition of his fund-raising efforts for the boosters. He also was a fund-raiser for his church, St. Richard.

"He was the type of person people would do things for because he asked," son Jimmy said. "He would not push you, but if he believed in it, it gave comfort to the people that it was a worthwhile cause."

He was born Jimmie Dale Lambert on Sept. 21, 1937, in Delta, Ohio, to Arvada and Howard Lambert. He was a 1955 graduate of Swanton High School and became a parts manager of the local Chevrolet dealership. He was a 30-year employee of the Pilliod Co., and retired at age 59 as production manager. He later was a driver for ProMedica, delivering medicine to the ill in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan.

His daughter Leslie died in 1986. Surviving are his wife, Betty, whom he married June 2, 1956; daughters, Linda Faulb and Laurie Pollock; sons, Jeff, John, and Jimmy; sister, Dolores Hicks; brothers, Harold and Richard Lambert; half brother, Danny VanOrman; 11 grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter.

Visitation is 2-9 p.m. today in Weigel Funeral Home, Swanton, with a vigil service at 8 p.m. Funeral services are at 11 a.m. Friday in St. Richard Church, Swanton, where the body will be after 10 a.m.

The family suggests tributes to Swanton Athletic Boosters or a charity of the donor's choice.

This story was written by Blade Staff Writer Mark Zaborney. Contact him at: mzaborney@theblade.com or 419-724-6182.