Individual Details

Death

Kaiajade/The People’s Defender
Fire claims Franklin Twp. couple
Lamberts to be honored at Peebles church memorial service
Carleta Weyrich
Staff Writer
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP - A couple who spent the past 43 years as part of the Peebles community lost their lives Friday night when they were unable to escape their burning home on Cemetery Road. Lyle and Jayne (Shafer) Lambert, who attended the Peebles United Methodist Church, will be honored during memorial services on Friday at the church.
Lyle was born in Dayton in 1931. Three years later, his bride to be, Jayne was born in Miamisburg. They were married on Thanksgiving Day, 1960, at Mack Memorial Church of the Brethren in Dayton. For 10 years they lived in Dayton before coming to Peebles to live and work. Jayne taught elementary school in the Adams County/Ohio Valley School District, while Lyle operated a dairy farm. They raised two children, Marty and Karen.
Jayne taught 25 years in the local district, first Title I reading at Peebles Elementary, then second grade at North Adams Elementary. After retiring, she operated a driver's training school in Peebles.
Lyle also eventually retired, and the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2010.
On Friday night several volunteers at the Peebles Life Squad had gone outside for a break and saw a glow that shouldn't have been on the horizon, according to Franklin Township Fire Chief Donnie Swayne. On the cloudless night, they were able to pinpoint the location of the glow from its proximity to a cell tower and notified the Adams County Communications Center. The Franklin Township Fire Department received the call at 11:47 p.m.
Upon the arrival of firefighters, they found the house to be fully engulfed in flames. They were notified that the Lamberts were in the home, but were unable to enter the burning structure until the fire was subdued. Swayne said the Lambert home was a two-story wood frame house, and a 15x20 foot shed and a woodpile were also on fire, so the heat was too intense for firefighters to enter when they first arrived.
The Franklin Township Fire Department was assisted at the scene by departments from Peebles, Seaman, West Union, Wayne Township, Brushcreek Township from Highland County, and Rarden from Scioto County. The Adams County EMS was also at the scene with squads from the Peebles and Seaman stations, but there were no other injuries. Kenny Dick represented the Adams County Coroner's Office. The firefighters remained at the scene for approximately eight hours.
The Adams County Sheriff's Office was called to assist at the scene on Saturday due to the number of people sightseeing, as the fire was rumored to have been caused by debris from a meteor shower. The true cause of the fire is under investigation by the Ohio State Fire Marshal.