Willard Nelson Lambert

Willard Nelson Lambert, 75, of Anawalt, WV, peacefully departed this life, Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at Princeton Community Hospital, after a brave, long battle with hereditary polycystic kidney disease.  Willard was born July 5, 1947 in Leckie to the late Harvey and Ollie Marrs Lambert. Willard met the love of his life, Linda, and they were blessed to share 53 years of marriage, two children and three grandchildren. Known to be a man of few words, Willard was a devoted family man, hard worker, the one you could count on.  When his health permitted, you could find, and hear, him supporting his grandchildren in their school activities. 

Willard enjoyed deer hunting as it gave him a good excuse to be out in the woods.  He was a die hard WVU Mountaineer Football and NASCAR fan. Sunday naps occurred between the first and last ten plays or laps and you cheered Mountaineers, Earnhardt or Harvick to the win. 

Willard was a graduate of Gary High School. He was employed by Owens Illinois Glass in Bridgeton NJ for ten years before returning home to the WV hills where he worked as a longwall plow foreman for US Steel at No. 9 Gary and retired from Cleveland Cliffs in Pineville WV.  He and his crew set and broke numerous production and safety records throughout his career. 

In addition to his parents, his son and best buddy, Jeffrey; five brothers Bill, George, Frank, Ted and Randy; one sister, Maxine; special uncles, Jess Lambert and Grover Franklin, as well as his in-laws, EJ and Viola Hess, preceded him in death. 

Willard will be missed by his loving wife, Linda; his daughter, Paula, and son-in-law, Terry Akers; (his special joys) his grandson, Matthew Akers; two granddaughters, Hannah Cox and Marissa Akers; his brother, Gordon (Fran) Lambert, and his sister, Diane (Ronnie) Farmer, as well as extended family and friends. 

Services will be at 2:00 PM Saturday, May 27, 2023 at Cravens-Shires Funeral Home, Bluewell WV, with Rev. Stephan Webb officiating, assisted by Rev. Tim Baxter. The family welcomes your visit the hour before the funeral, from 1:00-2:00 PM. Burial will follow at Grandview Memory Gardens, Bluefield VA.  Pallbearers will be family and friends. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be donations to The American Kidney Fund, 11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 300, Rockville MD 20852 or online at kidneyfund.org. We appreciate your prayers and support throughout Willard’s illness and the days to come.