Sanford Harold (Si) Lambert, age 86, of Summit Street, Jackson, Ohio, passed away Saturday, July 13, 2013 at his home. He was born December 15, 1926 in Jackson, Ohio, to the late Chauncey and Nancy (Staten) Lambert.
He is survived by three daughters, Sandra Wilkin, Melody (Mike) Morgan, and Marva (Fred) Colby; seven grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren; sister, Grace Compston of Belmont, Ohio; brother, David (Johnny and Judy) Lambert of Huntington, WV; sisters-in-law, Norma J. Foster and Orpha Lambert; special niece, Julina (Walter) Luhrman, all of Jackson; as well as nieces, nephews and cousins.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Betty (Foster) Lambert in November of 2012; and brothers, Claude and John (Vernie) of Jackson.
Si graduated from Jackson High School in 1945. In June of that year he joined the pitching staff of the Burlington, N.C. Club, a farm organization of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Soon after, he was drafted in the U.S. Army where he pitched for Army teams.
Discharged from the armed forces at age 20, he resumed his baseball career with the Brooklyn Dodgers organization, where he played professional baseball from 1947-1951.
During the 1950s and 60s, Si worked in the scrap metal business (Jackson Aluminum Company) with his brother, the late John W. (Vernie) Lambert.
He was an avid coin collector, an antique dealer, pottery collector and expert, having had many of his pieces pictured in Huxford’s pottery collector’s books. Si and his wife owned and operated the Lamplight Antique Shop at their home on Summit Street for many years.
Being an entrepreneur, in the 1980s, Si started The Star Recycling Center. He bought and sold gold in the 1990s and participated in many antique shows.
In early 2005, he opened The Emporium Antiques and Collectibles on Broadway Street in Jackson where it continues today.
A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, July 16, 2013 at the Lewis-Gillum Funeral Home in Jackson with Rev. Wendell Vermillion officiating and burial to follow in Fairmount Cemetery. A military graveside service will be conducted by the Disabled American Veterans post 45 of Jackson. Friends may call Monday, July 15, 2013 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Grace United Methodist Church of Jackson, 124 Locust Street, Jackson, Ohio 45640. Online condolences can be sent to www.lewisgillumfuneralhomes.com.