Charles George Lambert

Charles George Lambert, 81, passed away July 10, 2023 from complications of Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Born in Medford, Massachusetts on July 9, 1942 to Dion Lambert and Ruth (Barker) Lambert, Charlie attended Malden schools, served in the Marines from 1960 to 1963, and, alongside his wife, Ruth (Tremble) Lambert, raised their five children in Newburyport. Charlie and Ruth moved to Amesbury in their retirement years and then to Sudbury in spring 2023.

Charlie was an intelligent, kind, and humble man with an impressive work ethic. His favorite hymn was "Put Your Shoulder to The Wheel,” which extols the virtues of hard and consistent labor. He spent his life working, sometimes multiple jobs or night shifts, to provide for his family. And he still had energy to be present for his children, taking them to play made-up games in the football stadium, driving them to early morning seminary, watching their junior varsity soccer games in the pouring rain. He was silly with his children and grandchildren and perhaps a bit of a softie.

Charlie and Ruth were married in the Jamaica Plain Baptist Church and, after several years of seeking a church home in Newburyport, found their place in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where they thrived. Charlie would regularly spend hours preparing talks or Sunday School lessons but was most comfortable behind the scenes, counting tithing in the clerk's office or vacuuming the chapel on a Saturday. He always made sure to shine his shoes on Saturday evenings to be ready for Sunday morning.

While raising a child with mental health challenges, Charlie and Ruth became active with NAMI Northeast Essex (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and later led support groups and taught many Family-to Family classes, sharing their experience and guiding others.

As a child Charlie would visit the Malden Public Library and check out the maximum number of books at a time: two! His mom forbade him from bringing a copy of "The Swiss Family Robinson'' into the house because he had found it in the trash and it was too dirty. He loved reading, but he also loved books and would collect them, share them, and talk about them fondly, like old friends. The only thing he liked better than history books were church books.

That’s not quite right–there was one thing he liked better than history books, church books, or even ice cream: his sweetheart and wife of 59 years, Ruth. He felt that she had saved his life when he was a directionless young man and she, with her strong personality and clear sense of purpose, had shown him how to live. Plus she was so beautiful! He adored her and wanted to spoil her and asked before he died that we all love her for him, as best we can.

“You can either laugh or cry, I choose laughter.” Charlie, Dad, Grampie–we are crying now because you are suddenly gone and we miss you, but we’ll remember your advice and laugh through our drying tears.

Charlie was predeceased by his parents, his sister Lorraine (Lambert) Billard, and his great-granddaughter, Evelyn Fisher. He is survived by his beloved wife Ruth (Tremble) Lambert, his children Bob (and wife Jen), Kathie (and husband Gill), Heather (and wife Cathy), Ben (and wife Natalie) and Beth, his brother Larry (and wife Mary Ann), eleven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Charlie’s memory to the charity of your choice or to the NAMI Northeast Essex Affiliate at P.O. Box 1821, Haverhill, MA 01831 or at https://www.naminortheastessex.org/

A service celebrating Charlie’s life will be held Wednesday, July 19 at 10:00am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 9 Jewett Street, Georgetown, with lunch afterwards. The burial will take place at Edson Cemetery, 1375 Gorham Street, Lowell at approximately 1:00pm.