Rev. Louis J. Lamb
Deceased: 2016-03-21
Diocese: OKLAHOMA CITY
ICTE Fall: 1999
February 12, 1926 – March 21, 2016 Reverend Louis Joseph Lamb, 90, died on March 21, 2016, in Oklahoma City. Father Lamb was born in Philadelphia, PA on February 12, 1926, one of seven children of Patrick and Nora Heffernan Lamb. Father Lamb was ordained to the priesthood in Philadelphia on May 13, 1961. Father Lamb attended parochial schools in the Philadelphia area before entering the U.S. Army Air Corps, where he served as a gunner on a B-29 “flying fortress” until his honorable discharge in 1946. Following his military service, he entered Maryknoll School and Seminary, Ossining, NY, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1950. After working in the private sector for a few years, he entered Mount Saint Mary Seminary, Emmitsburg, MD, and was ordained at Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia, for the Diocese of Oklahoma City and Tulsa. During his many years of service to the Church, he served as associate pastor of Saint Francis of Assisi, Oklahoma City; associate pastor, Saint Mary Church, Tulsa; and Saint Joseph Old Cathedral, Oklahoma City. He served as pastor of Saint Peter and Paul Church, Hobart and mission; Saint Philip Neri Church, Midwest City; Saint Joseph Old Cathedral; and Saint Mary Church, Ardmore and missions, where he retired in 2001. He also served Blessed Sacrament, Coalgate and missions; and Saint Ann Church, Elgin and missions while pursuing graduate studies at Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, where he received a Master of Social Work in 1973. Father Lamb never stopped learning, receiving a Master of Public Health (1975) and a Doctor of Philosophy (1979) from The University of Oklahoma, Health Sciences Center; a Doctor of Ministry (1984) from Phillips University, Enid; and a Master of Liberal Studies (1991) from The University of Oklahoma, Norman. Father Lamb also served as Promoter of Justice/Defender of the Bond; Board Member of the COOP-Clerical Organization of Oklahoma Priests; a teacher of Religion at Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School and Mount Saint Mary High School; Interim Director of Associated Catholic Charities; and Chaplain to the Catholic Daughters of America. The Honorable George Nigh proclaimed May 9, 1986, as Father Louis J. Lamb Day. Father Lamb was also a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. Father Lamb was preceded in death by his brothers, John, Francis, and Joseph; and sister, Mary. He is survived by brother, James Lamb, Virginia; sister, Elizabeth Piatkowski, New Jersey; many nieces and nephews; and his many friends. Father Lamb’s body will be received at Saint Joseph Old Cathedral, 307 N.W. 4th Street, Oklahoma City, at 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 23, 2016, with Visitation and Prayer Service. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Saint Joseph Old Cathedral at 2 p.m. March 23, 2016, with Interment at Resurrection Memorial Cemetery, 7801 N.W. Expressway, Oklahoma City, immediately following
