Paul E. Lambert, 94, of 1 Foster Place in Claremont, passed away Saturday night, September 11, at Valley Regional Hospital in Claremont NH, after a brief illness.

     Paul was born August 12, 1916, in Claremont, the son of and Argenard and Rose Hilda (LeClerc) Lambert . He had lived in Claremont his entire life.

    Paul started his career as a paperboy for the Eagle. He also fixed bicycles for the neighborhood in his father’s barn, which later became the Toy Castle, owned and operated  by his brother Conrad.  He worked summers at Claremont Woolen and later had a bread route. He met his future wife while delivering bread to her home.

     On June 26, 1941, Paul was married to Irene Bergeron, and they shared more than 69 years of marriage.

     Paul went into military service in 1942 and was honorably discharged in 1943 due to injuries.

      After returning from military duty, Paul worked at a Mobil YD service station on West Pleasant St. for a time. Later he constructed a block building on Charles St. and operated a truck repair service. He also started Lambert Oil Company at that location, which he later moved down to North and Main Streets. He started another business next to Lambert Oil called Lambert Supply, a plumbing wholesaler.

    Lambert Oil was later moved to Claremont Junction, and Paul started Lambert Auto, an American Motors dealership, there as well, which is now a Jeep Chrysler store.     Lambert Supply and Lambert Auto are owned and operated by Paul’s two sons.    

     In addition to his wife, Paul is survived by two sons, John and Louis, one daughter, Marie Mason; six grandchildren, Martha, Mary, Harmony, Hannah, Nicholas, and Kristina; and seven great-grandchildren, Kayla, Troy, Emily, Connor, Azure, Coranna, and Michelle.

     Paul was predeceased by his brothers Roland, Conrad and Rodolph, and his sister Simone Lucier.

     Visiting hours will be 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, September 14, at Stringer Funeral Home, 146 Broad Street..

A Mass Of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Central St., at 11 a.m. Wednesday, September 15.

Interment will follow in St Mary’s Cemetery.

     Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Church, 32 Pearl Street, Claremont, NH 03743