Robert O. Lambert

Col. Robert O. Lambert USA Retired, 93, of Frederick, died unexpectedly Sunday, January 20, 2013 at Homewood at Crumland Farms. Born January 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, whom he married on August 22, 1942.

Col. Lambert graduated from Taneytown High School , class of 1936; Western Maryland College, class of 1941; George Washington University in 1965 where he earned an MS degree in International Relations; and from 1979-82 did additional work at the University of Texas in San Antonio. In June 1941, upon graduation from college, he was commissioned in the US Army. During his thirty-eight year military career, he served in combat in WWII, 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 US Army; Intelligence Staff Officer, Headquarters I Corps, Korea; ROTC instructor at Lehigh University; Commander, 2nd Battalion, 187th Inf Regt, 10th Mtn Div Aschaffenburg, Germany; Commander, 46th Armored Infantry Battalion, 3rd Armored Division, Butzbach, Germany; Command and General Staff College, Ft Leavenworth, KS; US Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA; Army Aviation School, Ft Rucker, AL; Deputy Commander, The Primary Helicopter School, Mineral Wells, TX; Director of Personnel J-1, Southern Command, The Canal Zone, Panama; 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 US Army, Fort Sam Houston, TX. Among the many decorations and awards received by Col. Lambert 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 Col. Lambert retired from the Army and was employed by H&R Block in San Antonio until 1982, when the family moved to Maryland. Hethen continued his employment with H&R Block in Frederick until 1990. He was a member of theLibertytown-Unionville Lions Club for twenty 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.

In addition to his wife he is survived by two daughters, Patricia Joy Cox and husband Todd of New Market and Suzann Wilkinson and husband Ricke of Floyds Knobs, IN; four 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; 14 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 hus- band Jason, Katelyn Joy Wilkinson, Arthur Woods Cox IV and wife Lisa, Kirk Lee Lambert, Daniel Franklin Wilkinson, Carli Eleanor Cox, Genevieve Lee Lambert, Robert Charles Lambert; and 9 great grandchil- dren, 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 granddaughterJustine P. Wilkinson; grandson John M. Lambert; great grandchildren, Grayson M., McKinley Rae, Joshua R. Lambert; sisters, Anna V. Caldwell, Margaret L. Garner; and brother, Thomas H. Lambert.

Funeral services will be held, Friday, January 25, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Hartzler Funeral Home, 11802 Liberty Rd., Libertytown with Chaplain Esther Zigler, of Homewood at Crumland Farms, officiating, fol- lowed by a luncheon at 1 p.m. at Homewood. Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery, with full military honors, at a later date. The family will receive friends at the funeral home, Thursday, January 24, 2 - 4 and 7 - 9 pm.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Fairmount Cemetery, c/o Jerry Gladhill 11861 Renner Rd. Keymar, MD 21757. Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.hartzlerfuneralhome.com.