Walter L. Lamb

Walter L. Lamb, age 98, of Hendersonville, TN, formerly of Pittsfield, IL, passed away peacefully on May 10, 2025. He was born on February 28, 1927 in Decatur, IL, the son of Arthur Phillip Lamb and Lena D. Hendrix Lamb of Bement, IL.

Wally attended school in Bement and graduated from Bement High School in 1945. Following high school, he immediately enlisted in the Army in WWII, serving for 18 months, 11 of them in Egypt where he entered the Army Air Corp. Following his time in the service, he attended the University of Illinois, where he achieved the Bronze Tablet University Honors, graduating in 1950 with a degree in Agronomy and minor in Agriculture Economics.

He met his loving wife of 74 years, Marjorie Arnold of Cerro Gordo, IL, on a blind date while attending the University of Illinois. She survives.

Following college, Wally worked for the Warren County Service Co. and then farmed full-time in Piatt County, IL for 7 years. He was hired in 1960 by the Federal Land Bank Association where he worked for 25 years as the President / Loan Officer of FLBA Pittsfield - Quincy. He then did private appraisal work for the following 20 years, following retirement from FLBA.

In addition to his wife Marge, Wally is survived by his 3 daughters and sons-in-law: Debbie and Brent McCracken (CA), Jane and Paul Cook (TN), and Becky and Drew Terry (TX). He is also survived by 7 grandchildren: Eric Cook (Anna), Colin McCracken (Kristin), Cameron Cook (fiancée Hannah Thorson), Lindey McCracken Taylor, Sarah Cook Sparkman (Daniel), Conor Terry, and Brendan Terry, and 4 great-grandchildren: Eliza, Bryce, Benjamin and Austin.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Lena, his 6 siblings, Jeanette Foster, John Lamb, Gene Lamb, Rachel Pinneo, Marjorie Sullivan and Ruth Schold, many additional family members, and dear friends.

Wally was very involved in his Pittsfield community and church. He served as a trustee, elder, and deacon at his home church, First Christian Church of Pittsfield. He was very active in Rotary where he was a Paul Harris fellow and also served as President, in the Pittsfield Masonic Lodge, Ansar Shriners, Knights Templar, and on the board of the Pittsfield Community Center.

Wally deeply loved and cared for the love of his life, Marge, and together they raised their daughters, enjoyed many wonderful friends, served the community, traveled, connected with family, and looked forward to visits to and from their girls and their families. The family all enjoys precious memories of time at Pine Lakes, where Wally taught his grandkids to fish, ride a John Deere tractor, and play card games. He had an infectious sense of humor, but always earned the utmost respect of his family and those he met. In Hendersonville, he continued to make many more friends in his new home at Park Place. He will be greatly missed by all.

A small service will be held in Hendersonville, TN on June 11, 2025, and a more formal service will be held in Pittsfield, IL at a later time. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any memorials be sent to First Christian Church of Pittsfield in Walter’s memory to P.O. Box 306, Pittsfield, IL 62363.