John Wesley Lamb

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.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John Wesley Lamb, please visit our floral store.