Walter Theo Lambright

Walter grew up in the town of Pitkin, LA, where he was fondly known as ‘Theo’. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War. He was stationed in Hawaii at Schofield Barracks and USAG Bavaria, Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Germany. Upon his return from the war, he worked for Santa Fe Railway then Superior Oil Company, in Houston, TX. His job working with engineers on production projects in Manufacturing and Sales Department of Superior Oil, opened up a job opportunity with Boeing Airplane Company in Seattle, WA. Prior to his move to Seattle, he met and married a beautiful nurse, Frances Harkins whom he spotted working at the Montgomery County Hospital in Conroe, TX. They married in 1965 and welcomed their first daughter, Catherine born in Houston, TX prior to their move to Seattle. While at Boeing, Walter had the opportunity to work on Boeing’s Commercial blue streak production line which included Boeing’s 707, 727 and 737. He also became the supply specialist maintaining military contracts with the United States Air Force fleet of KC-135’s. Later being assigned to support all special projects related to The President’s ‘Air Force One’ Aircrafts (4 x 707 aircrafts in total). At this time, his pregnant wife had decided she could no longer take the rainfall average of Mercer Island, WA and requested to move back to Texas. He then went on to work for LTV Aerospace & Defense in Grand Prairie, TX, which was later purchased by Lockheed Martin - Aerospace and Electronics. He welcomed his second daughter, Carolyn; born in Dallas, TX upon their return. His projects for LTV included the B-1Bomber and the Missile Dynamic Simulator. He would later go on to retire from LTV working occasionally for Brown & Root, Inc./Halliburton as a consultant.

Anyone who met Walter, had no doubt for his love for sports. His knowledge was profound when it came to knowing the skill level of every high school kid in the state of Texas, and beyond. He often took his youngest daughter to every high school playoff game in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. Many would think the happiest moments of his life would be the birth of his daughters but it was most likely September 7, 1979, when ESPN first aired. Phone calls to his daughters usually started with, “Did you see the game last night?” or “Are you watching the game?”. Never with, “How are you doing?”. In their early childhood, while their mother worked the 3 to 11pm shift at the hospital, Walter often found the original Texas Ranger Turnpike Stadium to be the best option for providing his daughters dinner. What could be better than a baseball game with dinner? Baseball was not his only love. The Houston Oilers, and of course, the Dallas Cowboys were also on his list of great passions. On Sundays, it was a sense of moral obligation to get back home after church in time to see the Dallas Cowboys play. Not sure how many daughters could tell you the entire offense and defensive line-up for the Cowboys, but his daughters could. Thanks to their father, their love for sports has continued into adulthood. Walter was incredibly proud of his achievement of 32nd degree Master Mason of the Eagle Lake Lodge #366. He proudly wore his Master Mason Ring on top of his wedding band until the day he died. He was also a member of the Hella Shriner Temple for which he became president in the 90s, along with being a valued member of Scottish Rite of Freemasonry.

Walter is preceded in death by wife Frances K. Lambright; his parents Edna Johnson Odom and Ernest Lambright; and brother-in-law B.E. Wharton. He is survived by his daughters, Catherine Weber of Austin, TX; Carolyn Doss and her husband, Todd of Austin, TX; grandchildren, Cole and Caroline of Austin, TX; sister, Billie Wharton of Houston, TX; nephew, Timothy Wharton of Georgetown, TX; and niece, Kara Wharton of Houston, TX.

The family would like the thank the staff members of the Isle of Cedar Ridge and Resolution Hospice for their wonderful care over the last year.

A graveside service with military honors for Walter will be held Friday, June 30, 2023 at 1:45 pm at Dallas-Ft. Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, TX 75211.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldencapitalparks.com for the Lambright family.