Roll Call Tribute

Davis-Morris Funeral Home obituary
800 Center Ave
Brownwood, TX 76801
325-646-5555

Joan Marlene Lamkin
JANUARY 20, 1934 – SEPTEMBER 1, 2018

Services for Joan Marlene (Baron) Lamkin, 84, are set for 11:00 a.m. Friday September 7, at Davis-Morris Funeral Home in Brownwood, with burial to follow in Greenleaf Cemetery. Davis-Morris Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Visitation with the family will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Joan died Saturday, September 1, 2018, in San Antonio, Texas after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s. Joan was born January 20, 1934 in Hearne, Texas, the daughter of Otis and Selma Baron. In 1946, her family relocated to the Panama Canal Zone where Joan was active in the Girl Scouts and Rainbow Girls. She graduated from Balboa High School in 1952 and earned her Bachelor of Arts in 1956 from Baylor University. In 1970, she earned her Masters of Educational Curriculum and Instruction from Texas A&M University. Joan was a proud Baylor Bear and Texas Aggie. On July 26, 1956, she married Jack Lamkin, Jr. of Brownwood, Texas. On their honeymoon they made the first of numerous trips to Big Bend National Park. Joan began her teaching career on January 30, 1958 at Halandale ISD in San Antonio, TX. In the summer of 1958, she joined Jack in Augsburg, Germany while he was serving in the United States Army. While in Germany she briefly taught school and served in Women of the Chapel. In 1959, they returned to Brownwood to start a family where son Jack, III, (“Jay”) was born in 1959 and daughter Lynne was born in 1961. Joan and Jack were faithful members of First United Methodist Church of Brownwood serving in their Sunday school class. In 1965, Jack and Joan moved to Navasota, Texas where Joan returned to teaching, while Jack earned his Masters of Economics. It was during this time that Joan earned her PHT (Putting Hubby Through). After Jack completed his degree, they moved to College Station, Texas and Joan took a sabbatical from teaching to earn her graduate degree. In 1970, Joan resumed her teaching career in College Station ISD, which continued for the next 23 years. During her time in College Station, Joan was an active community member and volunteer, serving as a Girl Scout leader, Boy Scout volunteer and Red Cross Volunteer Water Safety Instructor for about 30 years. From May 1988 to January 1996, she was a member of the College Station Historic Preservation Committee and served as Chair from 1994 to 1996. She also served in numerous volunteer positions at A&M United Methodist Church in College Station, including youth Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, United Methodist Women and the handbell bell choir. After Joan retired from teaching in 1993, she and Jack relocated to Marathon, Texas in 1995 to serve as volunteers at Big Bend National Park where they contributed more than 10,000 volunteer hours. Joan and Jack were founding members of the Big Bend Conservancy and together they spearheaded the drive to authorize a specialized license plate for Big Bend National Park by the State of Texas. Since that time, over $600,000 has been raised in support of Big Bend National Park through sales of these license plates. In 1999, Jack and Joan were recognized for their contributions to the National Parks Service by the U.S. Department of the Interior. In 2012, Jack and Joan were honored by the Big Bend Conservancy with the Lamkin Service Award for outstanding volunteer service to Big Bend National Park. As a member of the Marathon United Methodist Church, Joan served as pianist and children’s Sunday School leader. She also served on the Wesley Student Center Board of Directors at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. Joan and Jack returned to Brownwood in 2006 and became actively involved in the Martin and Frances Lehnis Railroad Museum and the First United Methodist Church. Following Jack’s death in 2011, Joan relocated to San Antonio. Joan is survived by her sister Barbara (“Patsy”) Scott and brother-in-law William (“Scotty”) of Pilot Point, TX; son, Jack T. Lamkin, III and his wife Robbie of Allen, TX; daughter, Lynne Benson and her husband Larry of San Antonio, TX; eight grandchildren, four great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren include: Matthew Lamkin (Kimberlly); Jeffrey Lamkin (Joanna); Tyler Lamkin; Kelsey Gruen, (Tom, sons Henry and Peter); Kendall Bales (Meredith); Michael Benson (Suzi); Jarred Benson (sons Jourdan and London); and Bailey Benson. She was preceded in death by the love of her life, Jack, her husband of 54 years and her brother Donald. Memorials may be made to the Big Bend Conservancy or the charity of your choice. The family wishes to thank Kindred Hospice for their kindness and support during the last several months.

FAMILY
Joan is survived by her sister Barbara (“Patsy”) Scott and brother-in-law William (“Scotty”) of Pilot Point, TX; son, Jack T. Lamkin, III and his wife Robbie of Allen, TX; daughter, Lynne Benson and her husband Larry of San Antonio, TX; eight grandchildren, four great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren include: Matthew Lamkin (Kimberlly); Jeffrey Lamkin (Joanna); Tyler Lamkin; Kelsey Gruen, (Tom, sons Henry and Peter); Kendall Bales (Meredith); Michael Benson (Suzi); Jarred Benson (sons Jourdan and London); and Bailey Benson.
She was preceded in death by the love of her life, Jack, her husband of 54 years and her brother Donald.

PALLBEARERS
Matthew Lamkin, Active Pallbearer
Jeffrey Lamkin, Active Pallbearer
Tyler Lamkin, Active Pallbearer
Kendall Bales, Active Pallbearer
Kelsey Bales, Active Pallbearer
Bailey Benson, Active Pallbearer
Jarred Benson, Active Pallbearer
Michael Benson, Active Pallbearer


Services

6
SEPTEMBER
Visitation
6:30 am - 8:30 pm

DAVIS -MORRIS FUNERAL HOME
Chapel

800 Center Avenue
Brownwood, Texas 76801


7
SEPTEMBER
Funeral Service
11:00 am

DAVIS-MORRIS FUNERAL HOME
Chapel

800 Center Avenue
Brownwood, Texas 76801