Mildred (Jones) Lambert

Mildred (Jones) Lambert was born April 30, 1927 to the late Arnold and Minnie (French) Jones on a farm east of Lexington. She was delivered at home by Dr. J.B. Lambert who, unbeknownst to him, would someday be her father-in-law. Mildred was the fourth of eight children delivered by Dr. Lambert to the Jones family. She departed this life on Thursday, August 31, 2017 at the age of 90.

Mildred attended a two-room grade school known as Union Hill through the eighth grade, until it was torn down to build the naval base which later became the Lexington prison. She graduated from Lexington High School in May of 1945 and went to work for the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission as a clerk-typist; she was later promoted to Senior Clerk-Stenographer.
Mildred needed no introduction to her husband, Mark Lambert, since they had always known each other through school and their families. She liked to tell the story that her first cousins were Mark’s second cousins, but they were not kin. Mark and Mildred were married on August 19, 1951 in Oklahoma City. They were married sixty and one-half years before Mark’s death in February of 2012. Two children were born of this union.

Mildred was a part-time stay-at-home mom. She also delivered groceries and worked the cash register at Lambert Grocery and Market as well as working the cash registers in the cafeterias at West Junior High School and Norman High School. She was active in her children’s activities and was the secretary for Jackson’s PTA for one term. She also spent many hours helping to care for her mother and her aunt.

Mildred had a compassionate spirit and a great love for all she came in contact with. She found great joy in helping those in need, and their home was always open when someone needed a place to stay for a week or two; one young man even stayed for longer than that! Her main love was supporting her children’s activities, especially baseball. She and Mark housed the boys that were in town for the Sunbelt Classics tournaments and were paid back with lasting friendships
In her spare time, Mildred loved restoring old furniture, finding a thrill in seeing something that looked so awful becoming something beautiful. She fastidiously tended her yard until the elements took over and changed it all. One of Mildred’s favorite activities was ironing; she loved how beautiful a garment looked when she was finished.

Mildred was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi Women’s Fellowship, a hospice volunteer, and a member of Bethel Baptist Church, where she attended faithfully. She took great enjoyment in bringing chicken noodle soup and a sweet get well note to the ladies in the hospital and delivering literature through the Bethel Homebound Ministry. She could always be counted on to provide a casserole or delicious dessert in a time of need.

Mildred was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, three sisters, three brothers, four nephews, and two great-nephews. She is survived by: son Mike Lambert and wife Lorna; daughter Marla Harrell and husband Bill; grandchildren Jason Kirby, Jesse Smith and wife Erica, Morgan Grubb and husband Chance, Melissa Condley and husband Kelsey, and Megan King and husband Kyle; sister Jerry Gilley and husband Harold; great-grandchildren Kennedy and Parker Condley, Everett and Crosby King, Cooper Grubb and Jack Lucas.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in honor of Mildred to Food & Shelter for Friends (201 Reed Ave., Norman, OK 73071).