Col. Robert O. Lambert

Col. Robert O. Lambert, retired, 93, of Frederick, died unexpectedly Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, at Homewood at Crumland Farms.

Born Jan. 18, 1920, in Taneytown, he was the son of the late Oliver E. and Lola Mae Haines Lambert. He was the husband of Eleanor Joy Lambert, who he married Aug. 22, 1942.

He was a 1936 graduate of Taneytown High School; a graduate of Western Maryland College, class of 1941; and graduated from George Washington University in 1965, where he earned a Master of Science degree in international relations. From 1979 until 1982, he did additional work at the University of Texas in San Antonio. In June 1941, upon graduation from college, he was commissioned in the Army.

During his 38-year military career, he served in combat in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. His combat commands included command of Company B, 326th Glider Infantry Regiment, 13th Airborne Division in France during WWII, and the 12th Combat Aviation Group in Vietnam.

Other significant staff and command assignments included assignment to the 82nd Infantry Division when it was converted to be the 82nd Airborne Division, the first such unit in the Army; intelligence staff officer, Headquarters I Corps, Korea; ROTC instructor at Lehigh University; Commander, 2nd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mtn Div Aschaffenburg, Germany, and Commander, 46th Armored Infantry Battalion, 3rd Armored Division, in Butzbach, Germany; Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.; Army War College in Carlisle Barracks, Pa.; Army Aviation School in Fort Rucker, Ala.; deputy commander, The Primary Helicopter School, in Mineral Wells, Texas; and director of personnel J-1, Southern Command, at The Canal Zone, Panama.

He had also been assigned two tours at the Pentagon, on the Army Staff as deputy director of Army Aviation and in the Office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff; and a final tour as deputy chief of staff for Personnel and Administration, Headquarters Fifth Army in Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Among the many decorations and awards that he received are The Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, The Bronze Star, The Meritorious Service Medal, The Joint Service Commendation Medal, The Army Commendation Medal, and the Air Medal with Two Oak Leaf Clusters.

In 1979 he retired from the Army and was employed by H&R Block in San Antonio until 1982, when the family moved to Maryland. He then continued his employment with H&R Block in Frederick until 1990.

He was a member of the Libertytown-Unionville Lions Club for 20 years and was the recipient of the prestigious Melvin Jones Fellow Award. He was also a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Taneytown. He particularly enjoyed playing bridge with a group of post retirement friends, golf, and the many activities associated with the Lions Club.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, are daughters Patricia Joy Cox and husband Todd, of New Market, and Suzann Wilkinson and husband Ricke, of Floyds Knobs, Ind.; sons Michael O. Lambert and wife Patricia, of Springfield, Mo., James H. Lambert and wife Phyllis, of Columbia, Mo. and twins Christopher L. Lambert and wife Joanne, and Christian L. Lambert and wife Carroll, all of Frederick; grandchildren Courtney Clay Lambert, Kristin Marie Eastman and husband Stuart, Kimberly Ann Lambert, Erin Weidman and husband Joe, Zachariah Thaddeus Cox, Brandy Marie Marlow and husband Dale, Cassandra Lynn Lambert, Tammi Ilene Barber and husband Jason, Katelyn Joy Wilkinson, Arthur Woods Cox IV and wife Lisa, Kirk Lee Lambert, Daniel Franklin Wilkinson, Carli Eleanor Cox, Genevieve Lee Lambert and Robert Charles Lambert; and great-grandchildren Carson Crow Lambert, Cameron Clay Lambert, Tyler James Martin, Wilson Edwards Eastman, Luke Lambert Eastman, Ellie Marie Eastman, Caroline Joy Eastman, Jack Christopher Marlow and Brody John Marlow.

He was predeceased by a granddaughter, Justine P. Wilkinson; a grandson, John M. Lambert; great-grandchildren Grayson M., McKinley Rae and Joshua R. Lambert; sisters Anna V. Caldwell and Margaret L. Garner; and a brother, Thomas H. Lambert.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Hartzler Funeral Home, 11802 Liberty Road, Libertytown. 

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, with Chaplain Esther Zigler, of Homewood at Crumland Farms, officiating. Interment, with full military honors, will be in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Fairmount Cemetery, c/o Jerry Gladhill, 11861 Renner Road, Keymar, MD 21757.

Online condolences may be offered at www.hartzlerfuneralhome.com.

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