KINGSTON – Floyd A. Lamb, 96, of Kingston, formerly of Norwell and Milton, died May 4, 2017 from complications of Alzheimer’s. He was the husband and beloved best friend for over 73 years of the late Margaret W. Lamb.
Floyd was born in North Platte, Nebraska on February 18, 1921, son of the late Esther Babbitt and Everett Lamb. He grew up in Wyoming, Arizona, and Colorado, graduating from Stromsburg (Nebraska) high school. An adventuresome young man who rode a horse to school with his siblings, he was known to have “hopped a freight train” and travelled throughout the far West.
Floyd joined the U.S. Civilian Conservation Corps after high school, subsequently enrolling in the U.S. Merchant Marines from 1940 to 1946, during World War II. He trained on the sailing ship Joseph Conrad and, among other duties, was responsible for climbing and monitoring the masts of the legendary vessel. He was also a member of the US Naval Reserve.
?After the war, Floyd was hired to work in the mailroom of the John Hancock Insurance Company in Boston. His quick intelligence, integrity, and warm personality propelled him through the years. He became a financial analyst, eventually rising to become a Senior Vice President of the company. He was responsible for beginning the mutual fund component of the company, becoming Chairman of the Board of: John Hancock Advisors (an independent investment advisory company); the J. H. Bond Fund; the J.H. Balanced Fund; and both the J.H. Tax-Exempt Income Trust and the Cash Management Trust. He was also Director of John Hancock Distributors. Additionally, he was on the Board of Directors of the Manchester (NH) Gas & Electric Company as well as the Bank of New Hampshire. Floyd was a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society.
While he never attended college, Floyd pursued courses at Boston University and Northeastern University, and was invited to teach a course at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Advanced Management.
In addition to his work, Floyd thoroughly enjoyed life. He was an active and tournament-winning member of the Halifax Country Club’s Happy Warriors golf team until his early 90’s. He was an avid skier and a top bowler, and enjoyed hiking, fishing, reading, as well as travelling extensively with his wife and spending time with his family at homes on Attitash Mountain, NH; Eastham, Cape Cod; and Bonita Springs, Florida. A member of the Masonic Lodge, he was also a volunteer at Norfolk State Prison’s Fellowship Association, and past president of the YMCA’s South Shore Basketball League.
Above all, Floyd was a treasured husband, father, grandfather, and a much loved, well respected friend to many. He was pre-deceased by his brothers Wesley and Wayne, and a sister, Ann (Lamb) Wertz, of Arizona. He is survived by his daughter Margaret (Peggy) Lamb and her husband Richard Blair of North Easton, and son, Douglas Lamb and his wife Josephine, of Plymouth, and by his adoring grandchildren: Maggie Blair-Lamb, Ian Blair and his wife Laurie, Alex Blair-Lamb and his wife Karen, and Casey Fagnant and husband Isaac, as well as great grandchildren Aston Blair and Julie Blair.
Burial will be at the Evergreen Cemetery in Kingston on May 12, and will be private for immediate family.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Floyd’s memory would be gratefully appreciated, and put to critical use, by the Alzheimer’s Research Association at www.Alz.org/donate.
For online condolences please go to: www.shepherdfuneralhome.com