Donald Bernard “Don” Lambert, 82, beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and brother passed away surrounded by his family on Feb. 11, 2022 in Lexington, Ky. He was born in Cherokee on March 12, 1939.
An Air Force veteran, Don served during the Vietnam War at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Miss. And Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas. Don was also an industrial engineer with Burlington Industries and The M. Lowenstein Company, and a human resources professional with Martin Marietta Aerospace and Lockheed Martin.
He was a vibrant and competitive person that loved to fish, garden, woodwork, play cards, listen to and play music, watch NASCAR races, and cheer for his Tennessee Volunteers – both on the football field and basketball court. An enrolled tribal member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Don was drawn to the mountains of North Carolina. He returned to the Reservation and hills where he was raised throughout his life. He was proud of his family and his Cherokee heritage. He will be greatly missed.
He is survived by his children, Donna (Ron) Hunziker, Lisa (Larry) Meiman, and Brent (Brandi) Lambert; his grandchildren, Ryan (Emily) Hunziker, Christina Hunziker (Sean Egan), Nicholas Hunziker, Savannah Lambert, Makenna Lambert, Jarrett Meiman, Jake Meiman, Brenna Lambert, Jordan Meiman, and Josh Meiman; his great-grandson, Levi Hunziker; his siblings, Helen (Lewis) Harding and Sibbald (Shirley) Lambert; and many loving nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ginger Lambert; his daughter, Lori Lambert; his parents, Leonard and Carrie Lambert; his brother, Leonard Lambert Jr. and his wife Julia; his sister, Betty Hawkins and her husband Bruce; his brother-in-law, Joseph Brown; and his wife’s parents, Matthew and Murl Davis.
Commander Harding and the Steve Youngdeer American Legion Post 143 will conduct a Celebration of Life for all those who knew and loved Don on Saturday, June 11 at 2 p.m. at the Cherokee Veterans Park near the Council House. Please come to honor a fallen Cherokee brother.