Asa Lamb

Asa Curtis “Curt” Lamb, 82, longtime Dallas resident, died December 1 in Dallas. He was born to Asa Curtis Lamb and Virginia Collis Lamb in Portland on April 20, 1925. Curt attended Marysville Elementary School in Portland. At the age of 13 Curt moved with his family to a farm on Orchard Knob Road, outside Dallas. This was the beginning of Curt’s love for the land and farming. He graduated from Dallas High School in 1943, where he was vice-president of his senior class. In the early 1940s he was the state president of the Farmer’s Union Juniors. He attended Oregon State University for a short time. Curt married Charlotte Dolores Lamb on November 14, 1948 at the Dallas United Methodist Church. They were married for 59 years. Curt’s career included working at Gerlinger Carrier Co., driving freight truck for Wright Truck Line and farming at Suver. Following their marriage he and Charlotte moved to Lewisville where Curt farmed growing barley, red clover and raised sheep. They then moved to a farm in Independence, before moving to their Levens Street home in Dallas in 1956. Curt worked for Willamette Valley Plywood Mill for several years before being an agent with Equitable Life Assurance Society. In 1964 he was hired as the Dallas Area Chamber of Commerce manager, a job that he cherished and loved, which earned him the title of “Mr. Dallas.” He retired in 1980 after 16 years of dedicated service to the businesses and community of Dallas. Curt and Charlotte purchased Bresler’s 33 Flavors Ice Cream store in 1978 and served their many customers until retiring in 1986. Also during this time Curt was a gentleman farmer having more than 20 acres of land near Falls City where he raised sheep until 2000. Curt had been a member of the Dallas United Methodist Church for more than 56 years. He served on many church committees and served on the committee that built the new church located on LaCreole Drive. Curt was named First Citizen of Dallas in 1973 and the Lamb Family was honored as Exceptional Family of the Year in 2000; he was a member of the Dallas Volunteer Fire Department for 45 years, retiring as Deputy Chief; charter member of the Dallas Kiwanis Club founded in 1964 and served as president and Lt. Governor; an organizer of Dallas KIDS Inc.; president of the Oregon Chamber Executives; he helped in pioneering the Polk County Multiple Listing Service; columnist for the Polk County Itemizer-Observer for 40 years; charter member and organizer of the Polk County Museum Commission and president of the Polk County Historical Society; president of the Dallas Boosters Club; treasurer of the Dallas Quarterback Club; Dallas School District reading and lunch buddy; city of Dallas Recreation Committee member; 4-H leader; secretary of the Polk County Fair; Red Cross Blood Drive chair for more than 10 years; and coordinator of Dallas Christmas Cheer for 40 years. Curt’s interests included trains- any kind, size or shape- enjoying coffee with his Levens Street Gang and Saturday breakfast with his friends each week. Survivors include his wife, Charlotte; daughters, Nancy (Gerry) Adams and Peggy (Greg) Fisher; son, Warren (Sue) Lamb; four grandsons, Matthew, David, Scott and Eric; five great-grandchildren; cousin, Ethel Louise Tilton; niece, Tammy Crawley; and nephews, Tim and Tom Sohn. Viewing is 9AM to 6PM, Wednesday, December 5th at Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center. Service is 11AM, Thursday, December 6th at Faith Evangelical Free Church in Dallas. Contributions are suggested to Dallas Christmas Cheer, The SmileTrain or the Dallas United Methodist Church in care of Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center.