Donald Winton Lambeth

Don, age 80, passed away on May 25, 2019. He was born in Houston Texas on March 31, 1939. He lived his life in Houston until the end of junior high and then his family moved to Alvin Texas. He attended Alvin high school where he played baseball, was a member of FFA and rode bulls in rodeos at least a few times. After graduation, he worked for his uncle and did construction projects. He met a beautiful young lady while working on a construction job near Deweyvile, Texas. That young lady (known as Barbara Hippler) soon became his bride, Barbara Lambeth. 

He continued living in Alvin until he joined the Air Force in 1961. Don volunteered to join the USAF and Barbara was right by his side supporting him all the way. He served state-side during the Vietnam War in Nebraska at the Strategic Air Command (SAC) from 1961-66.
 

After the Air Force, Don & Barbara returned to Alvin as it placed them close to work and their families. Don was a member of the First Baptist Church from his youth through the mid-eighties.

Don took a new path and started a new job as an operator at a chemical plant in Houston. Their life was blessed with birth a baby girl, Donna Sue Lambeth, on April 30, 1969.

He was a hard-working devoted employee there for 25 years. In 1975, he narrowly escaped death during a chemical tank valve failure. Although burned severely, he and Barbara made it through difficult surgeries and physical therapy. Eventually, he was as good as new.

He worked at the same plant, Witco Chemical, until retirement in 1995. 

Some of Don’s favorite leisure activities included fishing (surf fishing in & around Galveston), boating (for bass fishing), hunting, bird-watching, listening to music, reading, piddling in the garage at his workbench, antiquing (baseball cards, old tools), exercising at the YMCA with his friends and watching the Astros from the days of Colt 45s to World Champions in 2017.

Donald Winton Lambeth was preceded in death by his mother, Velma Kathryn Lambeth; his brother, Glenn Perry Lambeth; and his father Faye Winton Lambeth.

He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Barbara Wanell Lambeth and only child, Donna Lambeth Owens, her husband Peter James Owens and three grand-daughters; Marlowe Christine Taylor, Mallory Sheridan Taylor and Macy Rayann Owens.

He was a gentleman at all times, a heart of gold. Always ready with a sprinkling of his off the wall sense of humor. He will be deeply missed.

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