William C. Lamb

Lt. Col. William “Bill” C. Lamb, USAF (Ret), age 86 of Fairborn, passed away on May 29, 2026 after a long battle with cancer. He was born October 9, 1939 in Syracuse, New York, the son of the late E. Walter and Marie (McCole) Lamb and stepmother Buelah Lamb. Bill is survived by his loving wife of almost 64 years, Ruthanne, married on June 30, 1962; three children, Steve (Lorie) Lamb; Christopher (Heather) Adkins-Lamb, Margaret Lamb; grandchildren, Andrew & Sheila Lamb, Sarah & Steve Perry, Gabriel & Kristina Adkins-Lamb, Christian Adkins-Lamb, Hannah Adkins-Lamb; great grandchildren Keira, Aoife, Miles, and Quintin.

Bill graduated from Central High School in 1957 and Syracuse University in 1961. He earned his Masters degree at the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1970. He joined the USAF in 1962 as an aerospace engineer. His USAF career included being stationed at Tinker AFB, Maxwell AFB, Malmstrom AFB, and Wright Patterson AFB (multiple times). Bill was also a USAF exchange officer with the Canadian Royal Air Force for two years in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Bill retired from the USAF with over 22 years of service to his country and followed with employment as a defense contractor. He enjoyed traveling, blue grass music especially The Krueger Brothers; English Premier League Liverpool Football Club games; and ordering Jersey Mike’s #5 with no onion. He was a longtime member of Faith Community United Methodist Church in Xenia; he served alongside Ruthanne as a volunteer at Henderson Settlement in Frakes, Kentucky for ten weeks at a time over nine years. Of all things in life, Bill enjoyed spending time with his family the most.

A celebration of life will be held on Friday June 5, 2026 at 6:00 pm at the Belton-Stroup Funeral Home, 422 E. Dayton-Yellow Springs Rd., Fairborn, Pastor Jeff Bandy officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:00 pm until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers the family invites people to make memorial gifts to Ohio Hospice of Dayton in memory of Bill.