Francis Eugene Lambert 1931 - 2015 Went to be with the Lord and with his recently departed wife Betty on September 22, 2015. Born in Pittsburgh and raised in Cumberland Maryland, Frank initially began studying for the priesthood. He later changed course, briefly serving in the U.S. Army and eventually earning a Master's Degree in Hospital Administration from Northwestern University of Chicago. By 1959 he was the youngest professional Hospital Administrator in the state of Ohio. During his graduate training he met the love of his life, Betty, a psychiatric nurse. They married in 1958 in Cleveland, Ohio and went on to have four children. In 1976 he changed course professionally yet again, returning to his roots in the ministry. Having studied to become a Permanent Deacon in the Catholic Church, Frank left hospital administration for full time ministry, becoming the first Associate Director of the Baltimore Archdiocese Division of Health Care Ministry. Frank later obtained a second Master's Degree in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola College in Baltimore, MD. He dedicated the rest of his professional career to the ministry, continuing to serve as a Permanent Deacon after retiring to Green Valley, AZ in 1994. For most of his last year Frank lived in a senior living community in Tucson, AZ, where he served as a deacon at Sunday masses. True animal lovers, Frank and his wife Betty volunteered many hours at the Green Valley Animal League during their retirement. A talented artist in ink, oil and graphite, Frank captured the diversity of humanity in portraiture and won numerous awards for his talent. Frank is survived by daughters, Mary, Monica and Rose and son, Michael; grandchildren, Jackie, Taylor, Aaron, Brendan, Kelly, Tara, Leonard III, and Shane; great-grandson, Mason, and siblings Jane, Nancy, Jim, and Becky. When asked how he'd like to be remembered Frank replied "Under the guidance of his Maker, one who tried always to do his best as husband, father, deacon, hospital administrator and lover of animals." In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The Animal League of Green Valley (checks to be made out to TALGV) 1600 W. Duvall Mine Rd, Green Valley, 85614. A Viewing will be held Thursday, October 1, 2015, 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at The Green Valley Mortuary, 18751 S. La Cañada Dr. Sahuarita, AZ. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. the following day, Friday, October 2, 2015 at Our Lady of the Valley Parish, 505 N La Cañada Dr, Green Valley, AZ. Arrangements by GREEN VALLEY MORTUARY.

Published in the Arizona Daily Star on Sept. 27, 2015