Harold Dean Lambert Jr.

Harold Dean Lambert, Jr. January 27, 1945 - July 28, 2023 

Dean Lambert, 78, made his final PCS move (military lingo for a permanent change of station) at home in Clermont, FL.  He is now finally at peace after battling Alzheimer’s disease for the last several years of his life.

Dean is survived by his wife of 45 years, Kay; daughter, Laura Lambert (Kenny White) of Las Cruces, NM; son, Harold Lambert III (Vanessa) of San Antonio,TX; two granddaughters, Katrina Lambert and Nyasia Lambert-White; one grandson, Giancarlo Lambert; one great grandson, Timothy Lambert, and two brothers, Kenneth Lambert (Susan) of Saginaw, MI and Jay Lambert (Ell) of Astoria, OR.  

Dean, the young man, was the oldest of three rambunctious boys born to Harold Lambert, Sr. and Phyllis (Wolslagel) Lambert of Cleveland, OH who raised him to be  the responsible, honorable, resourceful and quick witted man that he became. 

Dean, the military man, served honorably in the US Army for 22 years.  He completed tours of duty in Vietnam, Okinawa, South Korea and a variety of stateside posts to include Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX where he met and married Kay, his second wife.  He ended his career at Ft. Bliss, TX retiring as a Sergeant's Major in May 1987. 

Dean, the adventurous man, pursued his passions throughout his life.  As an avid runner and exercise enthusiast, he competed in any road race or marathon within a 400 mile radius.  On the day he married Kay, they completed a 10K race in the morning, got married that evening and next morning headed out to a 10K Volksmarch. 

Dean had a life long dream of being a pilot.  In the first years after he retired from the Army he learned to fly small planes, got his private pilot and instructor certifications, and started his own training school (SkyHigh Flight Training).  Eventually, Kay told him he needed to “get a real job”.  To his credit, he did, and continued sharing his love of flying with others when he wasn't working at his real job. 

He learned to scuba dive and enjoyed it immensely.  Especially when he could combine his diving and pilot skills by flying his small plane and friends to diving spots in Mexico.  

He decided that he would build his own plane and ordered a KitFox that took up residence in his garage for many years.  After he and Kay retired from El Paso Community College, he finally admitted that he was never going to finish it.  He traded it in on a new RV so they could spend summers traveling around the country. 

When he wasn’t cruising the country in an RV, he enjoyed cruising on the big ships to places unknown and cruising the backroads of Texas, New Mexico and Colorado on his Goldwing motorcycle. 

Dean, the computer geek, was all about anything with a keyboard and always the first to get the newest phone and tech gadgets.  He loved dismantling and rebuilding his computers.  He worked in Information Technology and eventually taught computer science at the college before and after he retired. 

He has made an anatomical donation to the University of Central Florida College of Medicine for medical research and education.  His cremains will ultimately be cared for at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL. 

Dean was a special, happy man of good humor and a sparkling smile.  He would never want family or friends to mourn his passing.  No formal memorial is planned per his wishes.  No flowers or memorial contributions wanted - just remember him as you knew him. 

With much gratitude and thanks to VITAS Hospice and Comfort Keepers of Clermont  who made the final months easier to bear.