Francis William Lambert

It was always there, that laugh. Along with the stories and the ever-present smile was that bold, throaty laugh that filled his entire chest and then the room. Frank Lambert always had time to help a friend, check out a tractor or stop for an ice cream cone with his grandchildren. He died March 5 at his home in Upland, California.

The youngest child of Bert and Mary Lambert, Frank was born Nov. 29, 1944 in Watertown, New York, and raised on a farm near the village of Pulaski. He graduated from Pulaski Academy and Central School in 1962, joined the Navy and served for two years during the Vietnam War.

He met a beautiful young nursing student, Mary E. (Beth) Heilig, in the fall of 1963. They were married in 1966 and spent the last 50 years as best friends, traveling companions, parents and grandparents. Frank and Beth had a special bond and their love and support for one another was apparent to everyone who knew them.

He began his career working at a Vermeer Equipment Dealership as a mechanic and later became the sales manager at a shop in East Moriches, New York. In 1978, he took a risk and moved his young family across the country (in a U-haul and Buick) to accept a new position with Vermeer California. He and his friend and partner, Steve Sage, purchased the Ontario, California, dealership in 1986 and together grew the single store to include much of the West Coast with five stores and 60 employees.

Frank never met a stranger and to quote one of his nephews, “he liked skirting that line between fun and trouble.” As a result, he had a large network of friends around the country. He also had a love of fast cars that started with childhood trips to the Oswego (New York) Speedway with his father.

One day he took his white Suburban full of mechanics to check out the newly built California Speedway, talked his way in, and introduced himself to NASCAR driver Ken Schrader. He invited Ken to a company open house the next day and Ken accepted. The two quickly became friends and through Ken and his wife, Ann, met a wonderful group of friends who frequently traveled together and enjoyed life to the fullest.

His greatest joy however, was spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.

When the business was sold in 2004 Frank and Beth began spending summers at their home in La Conner, Washington, north of Seattle. There they gained yet another community of dear friends and fulfilled their lifelong dream of building a “grandkid trap.” They purchased land in the country, built a barn and finished it for family fun. Their grandchildren helped fulfill that dream, visiting every summer and during school holidays to pick blackberries, drive tractors and catch Dungeness crabs.

Frank Lambert is survived by his wife of 50 years, Mary E. (Beth) Lambert; children Julie (Chris) Haughton of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Jennifer (Lyle) Ralston of Kirkwood, Missouri; Paula Lambert (Matt Olson) of Claremont, California; and Joe (Courtney) Lambert of Upland, California; grandchildren Claire and Max Weintraub; Timothy and Joshua Haughton; Joshua, Mary and Amanda Ralston; Isaac and Nina Olson, and Cooper and Carter Lambert; siblings Judy Martineau of Greensboro, North Carolina; Dan Lambert of Santa Rosa, California and Polly (Ray) Naramore of Aiken, South Carolina. He was a favorite uncle to many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Bert and Mary Lambert, and brother, Joe Lambert.

A memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, March 10 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, 2110 N. San Antonio Ave., Upland. A memorial service will be held in La Conner in the coming months.

Memorial contributions may be made in Frank’s name to one of his favorite charities: Friendship House (skagitfriendshiphouse.org) or P.O. Box 517, Mount Vernon, WA 98273 and House of Ruth (houseofruthinc.org) or P.O. Box 459, Claremont, CA 91711.

Arrangements under the direction of Stone Funeral Home FD272, Upland, CA.