Veteran, golfer, loving grandfather

Denis J. Lambert died at home on March 26, 2016. He was 78.

He was born on September 23, 1937 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Russell and Helen Lambert. He earned a bachelor’s degree and in 1959 married his wife Patricia. The couple had known each other for years, having attended the same grade school and neighboring parochial high schools.

Mr. Lambert entered the US Air Force as a pilot in 1960. After five years in the military, he returned to civilian life. He started a career with Honeywell in Minnesota and was later transferred to California in 1971. He had many years in contract administration and program management and furthered his career with an MBA from Cal Poly Pomona.

The Honeywell division was purchased by Raytheon and later moved to Texas.

Denis chose to remain in California and returned to school at UCLA, becoming a certified paralegal. He worked for a law firm, Lane Powell, in downtown Los Angeles as an aviation paralegal.

In his spare time, he liked reading and had a particular interest in Tom Clancy’s thrilling novels as well as anything to do with politics and history. His son-in-law, Royce Nix, recalls visiting Washington, DC with him back when you could walk through the Pentagon with just one or two escorts. A guide asked if anyone in the crowd could name all of the conflicts going on in the world. Mr. Lambert was a soft-spoken person, but he stepped forward and began listing them. “He really hit the nail on the head,” Mr. Nix said. “They said, ‘You’re impressive. Would you like a job?’”

Mr. Lambert was an avid golfer and would hit the greens with a group of golf buddies on a weekly basis. He was a parishioner at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Upland and, while he was quiet about his faith, he rarely went a week without attending mass. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and liked to travel with his wife, heading for destinations like Germany, Holland and Hawaii. “He was a very loving, caring and thoughtful person,” family shared.

Denis is lovingly survived by his wife of 56 years, Patricia, granddaughters Caitlin and Calleigh and son-in-law Royce Nix. He was preceded in death by his daughter Laurie Lambert Nix in May of 2015.

Services were held on April 6 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Upland. Donations may be made to the American Heart Association.