Janis Kay Lamberth

Janis Kay Jost Lamberth passed away on September 7, 2024, at Inova Alexandria Hospital from septic shock due to a still undetermined sudden infection, with her husband Royce holding her hand at her side.

Janis was born in Peoria, Illinois; her parents (Lois and Wilbur Jost) and her entire extended family, including Janis’ only sibling—her sister, Karen—moved when Janis was 9 years old to San Antonio, Texas. Janis attended public schools there and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School, where she was an active member of the rope line and marched as a Lasso in parades and at ball games (her husband-to-be was Drum Major at another high school in San Antonio).

Janis attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Education, and returned to San Antonio to teach elementary school in the Northside Independent School District. After spending a year overseas teaching school at an Army dependents’ school in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Janis returned to San Antonio and decided to get a Master’s Degree from University of the Incarnate Word and become a reading specialist. In that position, she traveled to different schools daily to help children with reading problems. Janis’ school district obtained a grant of federal funds to administer the reading program, and she had to make periodic trips to Washington, D.C. with her supervisor for training. Janis’ younger sister, Karen, had long before married Royce’s older brother, Larry, so it was suggested that Janis call Royce to take her out to dinner while she was visiting. Royce did, each night, on every visit, and they became so well acquainted they fell in love with each other. They were married in San Antonio on June 16, 1979, and just celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary this summer.

Those who know Janis and Royce know that the two daughters of Karen and Larry, Sharon Lamberth Chisom and Susan Lamberth Szabados, who are actually double nieces, were treated like their own daughters and they always had wonderful loving relationships, including now with their husbands, Mark and Erik, and their children, Zinnia and Odin.

Janis worked as a volunteer at the White House for President Ronald Reagan and President George H.W. Bush. She was active in a bowling league, and her best new friends in D.C. were those she met through this league and her aerobics class.

Janis was a past President of the National Capital Lawyers Auxiliary, and for the last 25 years served as Treasurer. She served on several committees, including the Supreme Court Justices’ Spouses Luncheon each year, the Law Day Celebration each year at the Supreme Court where D.C. school students receive awards from a Supreme Court Justice—attended by their parents and teachers—and other events. Sometimes, holiday happenings were at her house, where she persuaded her husband to appear as Santa Claus. Janis was just recognized in March 2024 at the American Bar Association mid-year meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, as the winner of the Outstanding Individual Volunteer of the Year Award for 2024 by the American Lawyers Auxiliary.

When Janis’ husband, Royce, stepped down as Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in 2013, he took senior status and he and Janis have since then traveled to San Antonio to spend the winter months each year to assist the court there with its backlog as a visiting judge, and to enjoy the Mexican food and margaritas. Janis loved those visits and seeing relatives and old friends.

Janis’ love of reading led her to form a women’s book club in 2000 called the “No Cobwebs Book Club.” They met the first Monday morning of each month at each other’s homes for coffee and sweets, and at the end of the first year invited their husbands to join them in a dinner meeting, where all wives and husbands had read the same book. By the second year, the men decided to form their own book club. Since most of the men were still working, they met monthly at night for dinner at various restaurants, a tradition the women have since adopted for their morning meetings. The annual joint dinners continue to this day at the Christmas season.

Janis loved cocker spaniels her entire life, and walking them in her neighborhood was a distinct joy. Muffin came the day after Royce’s investiture as a judge, and she was perfect. Taffy, a distant cousin, came later, was less perfect, but lived to age 17 and brought much happiness.

Friends that wish to leave memories and condolences may visit her memorial page at josephgawlers.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, or to the Judge Royce C. Lamberth Scholarship Fund at the University of Texas School of Law.

A visitation and reception for Janis will be held Friday, October 11, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Joseph Gawler's Sons, LLC, 5130 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016. A funeral service will occur Saturday, October 12, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Christ Church Alexandria, 118 N. Washington Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. A reception, with additional guest speakers, will occur Saturday, October 12, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Christ Church Alexandria, 118 N. Washington Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. Janis will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery.