H. Valdor Lambert, 92, of Woonsocket, RI, passed away in his sleep on the morning of August 28th, 2014, with his family at his side. He was the beloved husband of the late Pauline F. (Bourget) Lambert for 40 years, and the late Loretta (St. Jean, O’Day) Lambert for 19 years.
Born in Woonsocket on April 13, 1922, “Val” was the son of the late Theodore and Albertine (Lacourse) Lambert.
He was an always loving father and grandfather, survived by his daughter Jacqueline P. Cushman of Woonsocket and his grandchildren James. K Cushman of Dallas, TX, Cristina M. Cushman of Petersham, MA, and Arthur William “Bill” Cushman of Philomath, OR, and their families who affectionately knew him as “Pepere”. He was also the father of the late Diane T. Lambert, RN, of Woonsocket.
Val was brother to Priscilla Moreau of Woonsocket, the late Normand M. Lambert, Raymond T. Lambert, and step-brother to the late Theodore Barthelemy Lambert. Through marriage, he became the step-father of Robert A. Kelly and his wife Lorel of Fairfield, CT.
The son of a Woonsocket police officer, the Ten Commandments and the Boy Scout principles served as his guidelines for life. He graduated from St. Ann’s School and Mt. St. Charles Preparatory School, where he played varsity basketball, and football, and ran track. As a Boy Scout, he achieved the highest rank as an Eagle Scout in 1939, and went on to serve the Thundermist District for 20 years as Advancement Chairman and Assistant Commissioner.
Raised on “grease and oil,” he was privileged to learn tool making from his uncle at Lambert Machine Works. He went on to study design engineering and earn his Bachelors of Science Degree in Industrial Electrical Engineering degree at The University of Rhode Island.
He entered the Navy in 1940 and served with the 82nd Submarine Division as Fire Control Submariner 3/E in Midway, Saipan, and Guam. On duty, he was selected to upgrade torpedo data computers with radar inputs that aided in the accuracy of torpedoes during defense operations. While on active duty, Val was a crewman aboard the USS Fulton and later the USS Proteus, the ship selected to transport Admiral Nimitz into Tokyo Bay after the Japanese surrender in August 1945.
After leaving the navy, Val was employed by Taft-Peirce for more than 34 years, initially as a tool maker. He went on to spend 16 years in management as a Method Engineering and Production Control Supervisor. He later worked at Tupperware and was a pioneer in the early development of injection molding techniques and production engineering.
Val retired at a relatively young age to provide personal care for his wife Pauline who suffered from a neurological disease that caused her to be bedridden for several years. After her passing, Val dedicated his time to volunteering at La Salette and to other religious vocations.
Val enjoyed physical activity and could be seen swimming at the local YMCA, and hiking the terrain of Rhode Island and Connecticut well into his 80s. He also loved singing and could be heard celebrating in the various church choirs around Woonsocket.
He will be deeply missed by all those who loved him and knew him as an ever-positive and cheerful man.
His funeral with visitation will be held Wednesday at 9:00 AM from the Fournier & Fournier Funeral Home, 463 South Main St. Woonsocket, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM in St. Charles Church, North Main St Woonsocket. Burial will follow in Resurrection Cemetery in Cumberland.