John Wesley Lamb
December 30, 1958 ~ December 17, 2025
John Lamb, 66, of Palestine, passed away on December 17, 2025. John was born on December 30, 1958 in Beaumont to parents Cliff and Jane Lamb. He had a lively mind, a generous spirit, and a tendency to do things his own way. He never grew out of it.
In high school John met the love of his life, Kathy, who promptly tricked him into asking her to the senior prom. She accepted his coerced invitation, he helped her pick out the fabric for her dress, and the rest is history. The two were married in Lake Jackson on August 18, 1979. They laughed during the ceremony and as often as possible for the next 46 years.
John and Kathy raised one son, Charles. John approached fatherhood with the same enthusiasm and curiosity with which he approached everything, and he was fiercely proud of the man his son became.
After graduating from Lon Morris College, John earned his degree in Psychology from Southwestern University and his teaching credentials from the University of Texas at Austin. For 29 years John gave of his time and talent for Palestine ISD students. His creativity spilled into the classroom and ignited the young minds trusted to his care. He created a place where students from all walks of life felt safe and seen. John believed learning should be active, memorable, and occasionally a little chaotic. John was particularly proud of his annual Civil War water gun reenactment.
John was a scholar, a world traveler, an artist, a chef, a singer, and an actor. He said yes to as many things as he could, and sometimes more than he should have. He thought so far outside of the box that sometimes it was hard to tell if there was a box. He loved adventures, big and small, and he loved being right. He officiated countless weddings because he believed in the power of love and the importance of sharing it.
For forty years, John gave of his incredible talents at the Palestine Community Theatre. His expertise and experience were unmatched, and his advice – solicited or not – valuable. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to PCT or Rotary International in his honor.
John is survived by his wife, Kathy; son, Charles; sisters, Brenda and Connie; and brother, Steve. He leaves behind a life well-lived.
A service to celebrate John Lamb's life will be conducted at 11:00a.m on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at The Historic Texas Theatre, 213 W. Crawford St., Palestine, Texas. Immediately following, all will be invited to greet the family during a reception at a venue to be announced after the service.
In true John fashion, there's no dress code—just personality. Black is perfectly fine if that's what fits, but splashes of color are warmly encouraged. Come casual, come dressy, come fanciful—kilts especially welcome. And if you have a PCT T-shirt from a show John worked on, please wear it proudly in his honor.
For those unable to attend in person, a live stream of the service will be available. Please access the Celebration of Life for John Lamb by clicking the link provided below.
An additional service will be held at 1:00p.m on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Evans Chapel Church, 4133 FM 977 W, Leona, Texas 75850. Following the service, the family will gather for a private interment in the Evans Chapel Cemetery.
We invite you to take a few moments to share fond memories and words of comfort and condolence with his family by selecting the "Share a Memory" icon.
Cremation and memorial services for John W. Lamb are in care of Rhone Funeral Home, 3900 S. State Highway 19, Palestine, Texas,75801.
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John was a fun delightful character. I worked with Kathy at Palestine Regional Hospital for years. It was during that time that their son, Charley was born. I have fond memories of them both. Much love to Kathy.
John was a fun, delightful character. I worked with Kathy at Palestine Regional Hospital for years. It was during that time that their son, Charley, was born. I have fond memories of them both. Much love and prayers for Kathy and Charley.
This is a big loss for Palestine in so many ways! May he rest in God’s peace and his family be comforted.
John was a treasure in our community He always had a smile on his face & you just loved being around him He was an awesome teacher remarkable actor & just the best friend anyone could have Our hearts are broken for his family We will all miss him terribly
Mr. Lamb’s smile could light up the darkest of rooms. The love that he shared with everyone could light up the darkest of hearts! My God, we are going to miss him so much! Kathy, we are praying for you and the rest of the family! With all of our love!
–Sister Brandy Dudley and Georgia Booker
A wonderful man and A blessing to every soul he met 💙🙏🏽
John was an amazing staff member at A. M. Story during my years as principal there, teacher, friend, example encourager and leader. He taught life to his students and they will never forget him. My prayers for strength, comfort and peace for Kathy, Charlie and all who mourn with hope for our friend.
John will be forever etched in my mind as a beacon of light in a sometimes very dark world. i wish the world had more folks like John Lamb in it. RIP
Mr lamb was my GT teacher and I will always cherish the creativeness he brought out in me. He was why I wanted to go to school at Story school.
When my husband, Maurice Mathis passed away he was active in PCT with John. At Maurice’s celebration of life John made a comment that was so appropriate for them. “Even a clown cries” . Prayers to his family. Love Cindy Mathis Bernacchi.
A true gentleman ,he would sit and drink beer/or wine with us all. But one thing he always bragged on was keeping Cathy happy and obeyed her to the max lol. John gave my boy his first job mowing his lawn and always taught him to do it to perfection. John would give you the shirt off his back he was one of the lads a regular at the pint at the cool kids table, most of all I will miss his love and passion he had for Cathy . Rip my brother never forgotten.
Mr. Lamb was a kind soul. The one who always smiled, always had a kind and wisdom filled response. It was a pleasure to know him. My sincere condolences, prayers, and love are sent your way.
John was one of my teachers in elementary school & I remember being struck by how safe I always felt around him. I was bullied for years & struggled immensely when it came to making friends, but he always made me feel valued, seen, and cared for.
His warmth, abundance of kindness, and bigger than life voice & smile lit up every single space he inhabited. I was inspired to audition for a number of shows at the Texas Theatre after seeing how much joy performing, and the community itself, brought him. He changed my life for the better, as he did for so many others, & I’ll forever be grateful for him.
The man who ignited my learning and showed me love and care in a very dark world. I will forever be grateful to the lessons learned in his classroom and the ones he instilled on my heart! He was and will always be one of the greatest teachers and humans!
Where do I even begin when I think about John? I knew John for about five years—only a small fraction of my life—but that brief time had a 100% impact, not only on me, but on my son as well.
One Wednesday, right after a Rotary meeting, about three weeks before the Hot Pepper Festival, I found myself panicking—scared, clueless, and completely overwhelmed by the responsibility of building a Rotary float. When I finally managed to calm down a little, the very first person who came to my mind was John Lamb. I didn’t even explain much on the phone; I just asked where he was. It was lunchtime, so as usual, he was at Point & Barrel.
The moment he saw me, the first thing he did was give me a big hug and tell me to calm down. He assured me that everything would be okay, that everything would get done on time, and that there was no need to worry. Then, patiently and calmly, he listened to all my ideas for the float. He immediately stepped in to help—guiding me in creating the Rotary cowboy and lasso. His help came at exactly the right time. That float went on to win first place.
The day before his accident, I called John to explain why I wasn’t able to participate in the Rotary Christmas parade float. I will never forget his words. He said, “Shweta, if you ever sign up for a project, I will be there to help you—not because I feel obligated, but because I want to help you. You can count on me anytime.”
John and I used to talk for hours—about everything and yet nothing in particular. We talked about politics, science, weather, engineering, religion….. The list goes on and on. Our conversations were always thoughtful and intelligent. John was the kind of person who could hold a meaningful conversation with a two-year-old toddler or a middle-aged international woman—making everyone feel heard and valued.
I am truly going to miss you, John. I will miss your company, our long conversations, your cheerful smile, your constant support, and your singing and acting. Rest in peace, my friend. Until we meet on the other side.
So sorry for your loss. We knew John as a boy when his dad was our pastor at Aldersgate Methodist in Port Arthur. He was a very nice boy. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family!🙏🙏🙏
John was an incredible teacher. He taught me many things during the time I worked with him. Nothing brought a smile to his face faster than talking about his family. Thank you John, rest in peace my friend. God bless you Kathy and Charlie. Prayers for your peace and understanding.
As I sit here reading all of the love pouring out for Mr. Lamb I am reminded just how many lives he touched with his kindness, generosity and love. I am only one of many. He changed my life in ways I never fully realized but because of him, a painfully shy young girl found her confidence and was able to soar. I will always be grateful for his belief in me. His smile could conquer any darkness and the world is a much darker place today without his light. Thank you for everything.
Rest in peace until we meet again.
Kathy, Our hearts hurt so much for you at this time. We know how hard it is to say goodbye to John. We remember John as a person so full of life with a huge personality!!! He always made us laugh. He was so sweet and caring, always interested in everyone at our office. He will be greatly missed by all of us. We pray the HE will fill your mind with so many wonderful and awesome memories of John We also pray that our Lord will send you His Love, His Comfort and His strength in the days ahead. Please know that you are in our prayers.
I will always be grateful for his kindness and his wisdom. I felt lucky to be one of his students.
I am so sorry to hear of John’s passing. He will be greatly missed. I didn’t get to know John that well but he was in Sister Act with us & I think 1 or 2 others. He was always nice & friendly. He extended an invitation to us when we did a play when Gabriel & I were doing Improv group. Sending love & hugs to his family, so sorry Kathy, I know it is hard for you now.
While working at Palestine bus barn I saw walking around the Southside school play ground with my grandson. Walked to fence and asked what my grandson had done. John knew he has ADHD and told me it helps him settle down after a short walk outside. He had my utmost respect when I realized that he really cares about the kids. My wife and I will always think about you when we visit the theater.
I met John initially as my daughter’s (both of them) fifth grade teacher. They were excited and eager to be a part of his class because he made learning fun. In later years I became friends with his wife, Kathy through our working together at Ob/Gyn Assoc. John had a way of making everyone he came in contact with feel special. I loved his sense of humor. I especially loved his unmistakable way that he loved his wife. It was so obvious in the tenderness he showed her no matter where they were. I am grateful to have know him. I marvel at the number of lives he touched and the legacy he leaves behind. God bless Kathy and his family with peace.