William ‘Bill’ Dungan Lamdin Jr.

(July 12, 1928 - Oct. 11, 2014)

On Oct. 11, 2014, in the serenity of the Spirit Mountain House in Cody, William “Bill” Dungan Lamdin Jr. drew his last breath, silencing his big, beautiful voice forever. He was 86.

He was surrounded by love with his wife of 59 years, Pat, his son, Bill, and daughters, Meredith and Elizabeth, and grandson, William.

Bill was born on July 12, 1928, in Baltimore, to Eleanor Clarke Lamdin and William Dungan Lamdin, Sr. Bill attended the Gilman School, Class of 1946, and graduated from Princeton with a bachelor’s of art degree in English in 1950.

After graduation, Bill’s sense of adventure and love of nature brought him to Jackson Hole to climb the Tetons, and he worked as a flagman down the Hoback to finance his trip. This fostered a lifelong love for adventure and exploring. On more than one occasion, his wife Pat thought she might have to send out the Search and Rescue, but Bill always knew the way home.

Bill was inducted into the Army, where he entered Officers’ Training School and became a second lieutenant in the Medical Services Corps, running an ambulance company in Korea.

After Korea, he returned to Baltimore and on New Year’s Eve 1953, he met the woman who would later become his wife.

Bill and Pat married on Aug. 20, 1955. Pat came with two children, to which four more would be added. Bill attended the University of Maryland School of Social Work, where he received his master’s degree.

Bill worked as a social worker at the University of Maryland’s Emergency Department until the family moved West in 1971.

Bill and Pat loaded up all their kids, household belongings, cats, dog and two ponies for an incredible journey to Meeteetse. There, in the beautiful Greybull River Valley, they found a small piece of paradise they named “Two Cabin Ranch.”

Bill worked as a realtor for nearly 30 years until his illness hospitalized him in 2008.

Bill is survived by his wife Pat and their children: Kathleen (Michael) Archbold, Adrian (Kathy) Merryman, William (Kimberly) D. Lamdin III, Meredith Lamdin Cartwright, Elizabeth Ridgely Lamdin and Eleanor (Greg) Lamdin Halsey; and grandchildren Halle Archbold, Sarah and Alice Merryman, Emily Merryman Pittman, Grace and John Lamdin, Tricia Cartwright Kindel, William Stephen Lamdin and Clare Halsey; as well as four great-grandchildren.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Elenor Clarke Lamdin and William D. Lamdin, Sr., and granddaughter Hilary E. Cartwright.

A celebration of Bill’s life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at Ballard Funeral Home, with a reception to follow at the Sunset House Restaurant at 4 p.m. in Cody.

Bill was a generous man and a gentle soul. He loved people, animals and nature.

Should you choose, memorial donations in his name may be made to Spirit Mountain Hospice, Park County Animal Shelter and the Cody Cupboard.

Ballard Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.