Baylor Mourns Death of Dean Emeritus of School of Education

Baylor University is mourning the death of Dr. Bill D. Lamkin, professor emeritus of educational psychology and Dean Emeritus of the School of Education. Lamkin passed away July 17 at the age of 82.

Visitation will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Davis-Morris Funeral Home in Brownwood. Graveside services will be 9:30 a.m. Thursday, July 21, in Greenleaf Cemetery in Brownwood. Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, July 21, at Seventh & James Baptist Church, 602 James Ave., Waco.

"Bill was a fine man, well-liked and respected by faculty and other Baylor and professional colleagues. I knew and respected him as a colleague dean," said Dr. Jon Engelhardt, dean of the School of Education. "His encouragement in the development of early international education and mission experiences for Baylor Education students continues to be seen as valued part of the educational offering at Baylor. He is remembered and will be missed by many."

Lamkin was born in Cleburne and raised in Early and Brownwood. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees in English from Baylor and his Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of Texas.

His early teaching career led him to Bangs and to Waco, where he taught at University High School and later was director of counseling at Waco High and for the Los Alamos, N.M., school system. He returned to Texas to complete his doctorate and worked as a research associate at the Research and Development Center for Teacher Education at the University of Texas, until Baylor called in 1967. For the next 28 years he taught in the School of Education, the last 12 years as dean. He retired in 1995.

As a teacher and administrator, Lamkin was a member of numerous professional organizations. He was an active member and deacon at Calvary Baptist Church and Seventh and James Baptist Church in Waco, and First Baptist Church of Brownwood. Bill also was an active member of the Brownwood Kiwanis Club and was honored when the club renamed the Key Club College Scholarship the Bill Lamkin Memorial Scholarship. His love of education and counseling also led him to be a CASA volunteer and to lend his expertise to New Horizons outside Goldthwaite.

He and his wife Robbie tasted the joys of travel in the '80s when Bill was given the opportunity to lead the Baylor In London program. The Lamkins eventually toured six of the seven continents.

He is survived by his wife; three daughters, Leigh Robson and husband, Ken, of Norman, Okla., Becky Robinson and husband, Jeff, of Horseshoe Bay, and Missy Kittner and husband, David, of Waco; "adopted" daughter, Debbie Tidwell of Houston; and four grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Watters Lamkin.

Memorials may be sent to Brownwood Kiwanis Club, Box 322, Brownwood, TX 76804; First Baptist Church of Brownwood Building Fund, 208 Austin Ave., Brownwood, TX 76801; or Baylor University School of Education Faculty/Staff Student Endowed Scholarship Fund, One Bear Place #97050, Waco, TX 76798.