Robert Lambright Jr.

Robert Lambright Jr.

1950-2021

The first time he thought he would die, was behind the wheel of a 1956 Ford careening down a hill in Mexico with no brakes and no lights on a surf trip in high school in the late 1960s.

Drew escaped death more than once, but more so, defied it in how he lived every day. He was the dictionary definition of 'easy-going' and smiled so often that people in his life could easily recount the 'one time he got mad because it was exceedingly rare. He absorbed the sunshine pedaling up the mountains of Santa Fe by bike, and reflected it back to everyone he passed in life. He ran, he surfed, he biked, he admired golf courses around the world, and claimed THREE holes in one - confirming that God smiled on him especially.

From France to Fredericksburg, he was a wine-taster, a live music-seeker, and front porch sitting gin & tonic zen-master, who was on a quest for the perfect Rueben sandwich. A shoe lover and over 182 shirts (at last count) dominated his closet. He was chief procrastinator. He relished the open road and anything that rolled, parking classic cars wherever he could find a garage roof, flying down the hillcountry highways in his massive truck, or mountain-biking through thin air on his electric bike.

He fell in love with the small town charm of Fredericksburg, TX, becoming a bonafide local over early morning coffee with regulars, as owner of the Sunset Inn & Restaurant, driving his classic cars in the parade every year…and finally, moving there full time. This surfer-dude, turned small-town local, also adored the small town chic of Santa Fe, trading his t-shirts for bolo ties and turquoise after hikes and rides.

A graduate of Westbury Highschool & Sam Houston State University, he racked up adventures with his life-long school-mates and "Bucket Boys" Ozzie, Mark, Gary & Randy. The list included taking in famed Redsox and Yankees games, biking around Aquidnick Island, watching the Americas Cup Trials, and just barely missed a perfect score when he visited Monaco, but missed the Grand Prix. As a lifetime 'Stros fan, he joins Randy & Gary for that home run in the sky.

Drew truly enjoyed his "real job". He worked in the oil patch 50 years, always saying he should retire so he could spend more time traveling, but how do you choose when you enjoy it all – including work. An old business associate would call out of the blue and he would recount stories about that contact and how happy it made him.

We offer a special thanks to the skilled emergency care of Dr. Peyton Barnes, for helping Drew cheat death a second time when his Lymphoma was initially discovered at a wedding. He gained an extra 15 years to enjoy long-drives, the back 9, and a G&T just the way he liked it. Drew defied death many times, but ultimately his Lymphoma returned to take him far too early, a few weeks after his 71st birthday in his home in Fredericksburg, surrounded by family, June 30th, 2021.

He will be cherished by the remaining 2 Bucket Boys, his sister who adored him – Linda Lambright Hagerman, his great friend and brother-in-law – John David Hagerman, his niece – Holly Hagerman Rouault, her husband Frederic and children, and nephew – Clayton Hagerman, his wife Holly and children, his cousin Connis Ann Cain of Tyler, TX, and his former wife who was a friend 'till the end – Chris Lambright.

He was born May 28th, 1950, to Mary West & Robert Drew Lambright in Houston, TX.

A celebration of life will be held in October in Houston, TX, rdrewl@yahoo.com.