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Obituary: Dr. Bertha Geraldine “Gerry” Lambert – Faculty Member 1966-88 – July 21, 2016

Dr. Bertha Geraldine Lambert, PhD

December 20, 1922 – July 21, 2016  

Dr. Bertha  Geraldine Lambert, PhD

Memorial services will be held at a later date for Dr. Bertha Geraldine Lambert, PhD, 93, who passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 21, 2016 at her residence in Lafayette.

Graveside services will be held on Saturday, July 30, 2016 at 2PM in Fairview Cemetery, 1400 N. Center Avenue Shawnee, Oklahoma 74801.

Dr. Lambert was born in Booneville, Arkansas on December 20, 1922, and the first thirteen years of her life were lived in El Reno, Oklahoma. There she attended Central Elementary and Junior High School, lived on "Route 66", experienced the "Dust Bowl" and "The Great Depression". Her family located to Shawnee, Oklahoma, in 1936, where she graduated from Shawnee High School in 1940. In High School she was involved in many extra-curricular activities and "lettered" in tennis and cheer leading. In 1940, the family returned to El Reno, where Jerry attended Redlands Community College (El Reno Junior College) and received an Associate in Arts Degree in 1942.

During World War II, she was employed by the El Reno Daily Tribune, was a member of the Civil Air Patrol, and received a Civil Defense Ribbon for her participation in the United States Civil Service Corps.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (Oklahoma College for Women), Chickasha, Oklahoma, in 1946; a Masters of Education Degree and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree from the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma (1958 and 1966). She was a John Hay Fellow and Humanities at Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts in 1964.

Dr. Lambert had been a long-time resident of Lafayette, Louisiana, having been appointed to the faculty of the University of Louisiana, Lafayette (USL) in 1966. She served in the Department of Psychology as an Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor and Head of the Department. She retired in May, 1988. From 1979 to 1983, she was an Affiliate Member of the Graduate Faculty of Louisiana State University. She was Executive Officer of the Faculty Senate, 1975-1977. She served as Chairman of the Curriculum Committee and the University Organizations Committee and also held membership in the Graduate Faculty. She was a Charter member of the Board of Directors of the Lafayette Juvenile and Young Adult Program, a member of the Board of Directors for the Southwest Louisiana Rehabilitation Center. She was a psychological consultant for the St. Landry Parish School Migrant Worker Program, and the St. Martin Parish Bilingual Program, the Acadiana Mental health Center and the Iberia Parish Schools.

She was a Senior author of a college textbook, "Adolescence: Transition from Childhood to Maturity" published by Brooks/Cole Publishers (Monterrey, California).

Dr. Lambert also taught Junior High School in the Hobbs Municipal Schools, Hobbs, New Mexico (1948-1961). While in Hobbs, she served as President of the Hobbs Education Association and President of the Hobbs Municipal Schools Federal Credit Union. She also taught in the El Reno, Oklahoma Public Schools, and the Oklahoma City Public Schools. She was licensed to practice Psychology in the State of Louisiana and she held membership in several local, state, regional and national Psychological Associations. She was a certified Rational-Emotive Therapist.

Honorary fraternities with which she was affiliated included the Phi Kappa Phi, Psi Chi, Kappa Delta Pi, Pi Gamma Mu, and Delta Kappa Gamma. She was president of the local Alpha Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, a member of the Order of Eastern Star (El Reno Chapter 27), a Life member of AAUW, the Alumni Association of the University of Oklahoma and the Alumni Association of the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.

During her retirement years, she was an active volunteer in VITA (Literacy Program), VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistant), member of the Executive Board of the Retired Senior and Volunteer Program, the Trials and Rails Program (sponsored by the Jean LaFitte National Historical Park Service and Amtrak), the Triad/Salt program sponsored by the Lafayette Sheriff’s Department and was a Travel Counselor at the Airport for the Lafayette Convention and Tourism Commission. She was an enthusiastic tennis, racquetball player and golfer and served as President of the Acadian Hills Ladies Golf Association and President of the Lafayette Municipal Ladies Gold Association. She also participated in the Senior Olympics and played bridge. She loved planes and travel having visited all of the seven continents.

Dr. Lambert was active in the activities of the First United Methodist Church, where she served on the Finance Board, the Staff-Parish Relations Committee and the Board of Trustees. She helped with the Vacation Bible School Programs, the Family Promise Program and was active in the Louisiana United Methodist Cursillo.

She is survived by three nephews, Steve Lambert and his wife, Cindi of Georgetown, TX, Paul Lambert and his wife, Donna of Cedar Park, TX and David Lambert and his wife, Phyllis of Southlake, TX; four great nephews, Michael Lambert, Kyle Lambert and his wife, Ashley, Garrett Lambert and his wife, Michele and Chris Lambert; great niece, Karri Milam and her husband, Cory; great-great nephews, Jacob Lambert, Carson Lambert, Gage Milam and Jackson Lambert; and great-great nieces, Ella Lambert, Madison Lambert, Avery Lambert, Aubrey Lambert, Sadie Lambert, Maggie Milam and Annie Milam.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur Lambert of Tupelo, MS and Bertha Nichols Lambert of Muldrow, Indian Territory, OK; one brother, Jack Madison Lambert of Dallas, TX and one sister-in-law, Marguerite Stoner Lambert of Dallas, TX.

The family would like to give special thanks and sincere gratitude to Dr. Karen Smith, the nurses and staff of Hospice of Acadiana, and her care givers, Vickey, Pauline, Sunshine and Anita. Special thanks to Dr. Shirley Covington and Diane Monroe for their kindness, compassion, years of friendship and love. We truly don’t know what our family would have done without you.

Memorial gifts may be sent in Dr. Lambert’s name to the First United Methodist Church of Lafayette, 703 Lee Ave, Lafayette, LA 70501 or the Acadiana Ultreya of the Louisiana United Methodist Cursillo, 2350 A Methodist Parkway, Woodworth, LA 71485.

View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com

Martin & Castille – DOWNTOWN, 330 St. Landry Street Lafayette, LA. 70506 337-234-2311

Posted by Ed Dugas, July 22, 2016