Obituary of David Charles Lamb

“A Life Lived Well” September 3, 1934. The Great Depression started less than five years before and it wasn’t over. Hitler had already proclaimed that his Third Reich would take over the world. Soon the world would know that he meant business. A loaf of bread cost .08, gas was .11 a gallon. Salaries averaged $1500 a year. A new car cost $575. A new home $5975. On 9/3/34 in Tacoma, Washington, David Charles Lamb arrived. Dave was born of parents Charles Owen and Bernadine Virginia Lamb. Life started on a “farm – with just a few animals” on 84th and “D” streets in Tacoma. Charles was an electrician by trade, Bernadine was a homemaker. Later, Charles was electrocuted while working as a lineman. He survived but his health was severely damaged. Charles and Bernadine switched jobs – Chuck stayed home and Bernie began working outside of the home. Money was never in great supply. Dave was blessed with siblings. He watched each of them. There was his older sister Virginia. His younger siblings were twins Jim and Janet. There was also a baby Donald that didn’t survive his first year. Dave loved his siblings. At times he felt like an only child as Virginia was on her own before he realized she was gone and the twins were always “much younger.” Dave thoroughly enjoyed all of them throughout his life but he didn’t appreciate them fully until they were all adults. Dave paid close attention to how families could be raised, money could be earned, faith could be followed and how lives could be led. He decided to live a different life than he observed. By the end of his grade school years, the family moved from south Tacoma. They moved to city center off of Pacific Avenue near what would become I-5. Dave spent his teen years swinging from the bridges. And liking cars and girls. His look said “rebellion” – slicked back hair, a pack of cigarettes, and leather. His heart was soft though. He just wanted out. In 1951 at age 17, he met Lorraine. His friend Mick Appell asked Dave to give Mick and his “girlfriend” Lorraine a lift in Dave’s car. Lorraine says that was the end of Mick. Dave and Lorraine were a matched pair from that point on. They became best friends and lovers for life. Married in 1953, their love story has never ended. They spoke of the days when they trimmed the lawn of their first home with a knife. Money was in short supply but love wasn’t. Their time together? 57 years on this earth. Lorraine recalls when Dave would pick her up for a date. He’d buy her dinner but he wouldn’t eat. “He wasn’t hungry.” Lorraine knew better. She observed and liked what she saw. Dave survived his youth and the world stage. He would learn to work smarter, not always harder. He’d say “grab both cheeks and go!” He did grab them but they weren’t always his. Lori was often in front of him. He’d lead her, she’d lead him, but both knew how to help the other. Dave was the dreamer, Lorraine was the practical one. Together they were unstoppable. It wasn’t always easy. But Dave made it fun. Over and over. Five kids later, he was still having fun. Dodie was first, Jerry next, then Sharon, Ilene and Amy. From 1956 to 1970, Dave and Lorraine delivered. In 1956, Dave and Lorraine lived in Olympia. After several stops in between by 1970 (actually 1965) they were back in Olympia to stay. By 1969 after a succession of traveling salesperson jobs and $500 in his pocket and with nearly five kids, Dave dreamed of a better life for him and Lorraine and their babies. At age 35, he entered the real estate field. By age 47, he was retired for good. He worked like a dog to age 47 but, for the next 31 years, he sat back and continued watching. He enjoyed what he saw. At the end, he had more money in his pocket than when he retired. Dave worked hard but he always found time to play hard. Weekends were spent boating or camping or doing something fun with his family. He instilled his work hard/play hard ethic into his kids as they are quick to laugh and to enjoy others but all of them also work hard. Life was good. Dave continued his love affair with cars. On his and Lorraine’s 25th anniversary, he bought them a Lincoln Continental. On their 50th, it was a Sebring convertible. Both dream cars. Before their 25th, it was station wagons and jeeps. After it were trucks and 5th wheel trailers. Lorraine and Dave hit the road. Adventure lay ahead and he could combine his adventures with four wheels. What a dream! Dave and Lori hit the 50 states and many other parts of the world. No wonder Dave loved girls. He got the best. An appreciator of physical beauty but it was what was on the inside that mattered most. Dave never chippied in his 57 years with Lolly. But he made the most of his life with her. Dave surrounded himself with girls. Four daughters and his favorite daughter-in-law. Man was he blessed! And he said so. Guess that is how he got so spoiled by all six of those girls. They loved him and he loved them. Dave was blessed and he was always thankful. The quickest person on earth with words of thanks and encouragement. Wow, was he good at “Thank you.” His grin and his way of drawing people out were world famous. Those who knew him remember that he always asked how they were doing and he meant it. He always encouraged them. He was fun to be with! His sayings were infamous. He would say to me “Keep that up Jerry and you’ll be a man before your mother.” His limericks were legendary. Remember the legend of “Johnny and Tamale”? His singing was awful. Guess I have to try and be as bad now. “Story-Di-adora, Story-Di-adora don’t spit on the floor-a, use the cuspidora, for that is what it is for-a.” There was an endless stream of fun around Dave. He kept us smiling. And laughing. And doing. And observing. And dreaming. His sensitivity for others made him rich. His hard work gave him time to be rich with others. Money was important but just a vehicle for enriching others. He loved us – not always perfectly but he loved us. Mom and dad, brothers and sisters, nieces, nephews, wife, kids, grandkids and great grandkids, friends and relatives. All of us. His was a life well lived. Rich and varied. Impossible to encapsulate in five minutes. But it was fun trying. If I could be a tenth of the person my father was, I’d be a rich man. He and Lorraine were everyone’s favorite. His doctor’s offices, his many bootlegger friends, Costco employees, at the grocery store or at the gas station. His customers. Their favorite. Just last night I picked up the phone and answered it as “Mr. Lamb.” At that time we weren’t able to tell anyone of Dad’s “succooming to de-fugilties.” So I said I was “Dave Lamb, Jerry Dave Lamb.” Then I heard it was someone young who Dave has known only a short while. He was Dad’s new mole catcher. He called to say he couldn’t make his appointment at Dad’s house. He asked if he could come today (when the funeral was happening). I realized it was then OK to say that Dad had passed on. Oh brother, guess what he said? “I’ll come tonight no matter what. Dave is my favorite customer. I’ve got to catch that mole for him.” How did Dave do it with people? Guess it was something to observe. He was something. — Jerry Donations can be made to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org through Memorials, David C. Lamb as your designee. Please leave memories of David or condolences for his family in the Guestbook below.