Obituary: Ronald Lee Lamb, 78, Hamlin Township.

Obituary: Ronald Lee Lamb, 78, Hamlin Township.

October 25, 1941 – May 11, 2020

Ron died peacefully at Ludington Woods on May 11, 2020, surrounded by loving family and his dear caregivers.
Ron was born in S. Charleston, West Virginia, to Creed and Halcie Lamb. An only child, he grew up with his cousins as his closest friends and many relatives in the hills of West Virginia. Ron attended South Charleston High School, where he graduated in 1959. He studied at the University of West Virginia from 1960-1964. After he graduated, Ron owned a pizza shop in downtown Charleston from 1964-1966.

In 1966, Ron enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Ron served two tours of duty on two different destroyers, the U.S.S. Braine and the U.S.S. John R. Craig, during the Vietnam conflict. He saw active duty in the Gulf on Tonkin, where both ships he was on came under heavy enemy fire. Ron left the Navy in 1969 as a petty officer first class and continued to serve as a reservist until 1974 when he was honorably discharged. Using the GI bill, Ron earned his masters of business administration degree (MBA) from Marshall University.

Ron spent the majority of this professional career serving as human resources director/personnel director/ personnel executive in numerous companies from American Electric Power (Roanoke, Virginia and Three Rivers, Michigan) to Aultman Hospital (Canton, Ohio), and retired from Memorial Medical Center (now Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital) in 2001. After that time Ron was a consultant to many local and state companies offering interim executive services, developing HR policy, and supporting HR Directors. Ron was incredibly active in the community, serving as president of the board for the Ludington Chamber of Commerce (now Ludington & Scottville Area Chamber of Commerce), president of the Board for SCORE, and president of the board for the local American Red Cross. He also served on the board of directors for Safe Harbor Credit Union.

Ron met the love of his life, Wendy Susan Westgarth, and her daughter, Lisa, in Three Rivers in 1974 while working for American Electric Power. Ron and Wendy were married in 1976 and their son, Adam Lee Lamb, was born in June 1979. Ron and Wendy loved working, doing projects around their house, hosting dinner parties for close friends and family, and gardening. Ron was also a car enthusiast and a collector of antique furniture and clocks, a golfer, a college sports fan (Go Mountaineers!), and a master griller. In recent years Ron’s greatest joy came from traveling and being a grandfather to Carol, Caleb, and Adalyn. Ron was a dear friend to many, a trusted advisor and confident to all, and the patriarch of the Lamb family.

Ron is survived by his son, Adam (Christine) Lamb; his daughter, Lisa (Paul) Williams; his grandchildren, Caroline (Henrique), Caleb, and Adalyn; dear cousins Jim (Bonnie), Mike (Lynne), and Debbie (Jim) and their children; his English family—Richard (Maggie) Westgarth, David (Kayleigh and Grant) Westgarth, Jill (Paul, Shelly, Christopher, Tudor, Tyler, and Georgia) Huggett; and many close friends. Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Creed and Halcie Lamb; his beloved wife, Wendy/Wendaline; dear friend, Cathy Olmstead; his in-laws Alec and Audrey Westgarth; several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Ron’s name to the Mason County Veteran’s Fund (Community Foundation for Mason County, PO Box 10, Ludington, MI 49431) or the Alzheimer’s Association (through the Lakeshore Pyratehead Club).
Arrangements have been made through Wyman Funeral & Cremation Services, Scottville.

Please visit Ron’s memory page at www.wymanfuneralservice.com to leave a tribute of Ron for his family, or to light a candle in his memory.