Phinis Lamb (originally Finis Lamb) was born in Idabel, Oklahoma on March 6, 1925 to Frank and Ola Lamb. One of eight children, she was intended to be the last child, hence the name “Finis.” Ironically, she was not the last child born, but was the last child of the family left alive when she passed. Her three sisters, Theda Jackson, Elwena Lamb, and Martha Sackett and four brothers, Arnett, Charles, John and Frank Jr., all preceded her in death. She thought “Finis” was too masculine a spelling and changed her name to “Phinis” when she became an adult.
As a child, Phinis knew she wanted to be a teacher. She would often line up the other children and play teacher. She attended Central School in Idabel for first and second grade, then moved to Durant, Oklahoma for grades 3 through 12. She graduated from Durant High School in 1943. She attended Southeastern State College and graduated with a BS degree in education in 1947 and received her Masters degree from Oklahoma State University in 1951.
Her first teaching job was at Sand Springs, Oklahoma in 1948 and 1949, teaching second and third graders. She taught in Tulsa for twelve years at Cherokee School and Linear School. She also taught for two years in Dallas, TX. She moved with her mother and father to Sacramento in 1963. She taught first grade at Winterstein Elementary School from 1963 to 1971. She transferred to Arlington Heights School where she finished her teaching career after 44 years in 1992.
After retiring, she volunteered at American River Hospital. She also did some traveling. She was a member of the Christ Community Church in Carmichael.
She is survived by nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews living in California, Texas, Oregon and North Carolina.
She never married.
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