Betty Lambert remembered for her talent
Whenever something was happening in Zelienople or Harmony, it was a good bet that Betty Lambert was involved — whether it cutting someone’s hair, was volunteering for the emergency services, or marching in Zelienople’s annual 4th of July parade.
“I've known her for about 50 years, and whenever there was something great going on, she was involved,” said Zelienople borough mayor Thomas Oliverio.
It was through parades — especially Zelienople’s Fourth of July parade — that Lambert garnered local, and even national, attention.
Lambert started as a majorette with the Harmony Harmonettes in the late 1940s, as well as the marching band for the now-defunct Zelienople High School. For decades, she marched as a baton twirler in the Fourth of July parade with the Resurrection Band, and in more recent years, she also incorporated flaming batons and knives into her act.
In September 2012, she had a brush with fame when she was featured in a front-page article in the Wall Street Journal for her age-defying acrobatic skills. She was also asked to appear on the CNN show Anderson Cooper 360, but had to decline, as she was recovering from a cancer removal surgery.
“She is well known in the area because of that,” said Oliverio. “For her not to be in the parade for the last couple of years is a shame.”
However, Lambert made a noticeable impact to Zelienople and Harmony the other 364 days of the year as well. For much of her life, she worked full-time as a hairdresser, operating Betty's Beauty Salon, as well as a picnic shelter that hosted weddings and other public events.
In addition to her twin business, Lambert was known for volunteer work, including 11 years of service to Harmony EMS, as well as Camp Run Presbyterian Church in Fombell, Beaver County, and Meals on Wheels of Zelienople, among other causes.
For her service to the borough, Lambert received the “Service Above Self” award from the Zelienople Rotary at the borough’s Fourth of July in 2016.
Lambert may now be gone, but residents of Zelienople can still reach out and touch her — literally.
During her lifetime, she gave so much to the borough that local artist Daviea Davis placed her front and center on a mural she created for the Spring Street Studios in Zelienople. The mural, located on the side of the building, depicts notable Zelienople and Butler County landmarks, and Lambert is shown in full majorette garb leading a parade.
“When I was working on the mural, I listened to stories about Zelienople, and the part about the yearly celebration parade caught my heart when I heard about Betty, who had been marching and twirling in the parade since she was a teenager,” Davis told the Butler Eagle.
“She was quite a character,” said Elizabeth Fortunato, co-owner of Spring Street Studios. “She was just so energetic and eager to sit down and share stories with us. That's what brought us together.”
The space on the mural where Betty’s face would be is replaced with a glass mirror which shows the face of the viewer, which is meant to entice the viewer to “Be your own Betty.”
“I met her at the big reveal of the mural, and was so happy to see that she was very touched and proud to be part of Zelienople’s story,” Davis said.
