Obituary for Cecil M. Ambrose
Ambrose, Cecil M.
November 25, 1931 – December 19, 2020
Cecil passed away on December 19, 2020, at the age of 89. He was the seventh son born to Albert J. and Clara Ida Marie Ambrose on November 25, 1931, in the small town of Roper, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Albert, Wilbur, Eugene, Vertis, Marvin, and Don and infant sister, Darlene. Cecil is survived by his truelove Wilma, their two children: Charlotte Barton (James) and Gary Ambrose; two granddaughters: Erica Barton and Jessica Chippeaux (Joshua); three great grandsons: Alexander, Austin, and Asa Chippeaux; one brother Norman; and two sisters Arlene Howrey and Nadine Green.
Prior to Cecil’s graduation from Benedict High School in Benedict, Kansas in 1949, he held his first job at the local post office in town. After school he would sort all the mail for a whopping sum of 25¢ per day! Later during the summers while in high school, he worked for the Hillroad Shows Movie Company, showing movies in small towns throughout South Central Kansas. While showing in Melvern, Cecil would visit the local hardware store to pick up parts for the trucks. He became quite smitten with a young hometown girl, who worked there after school and on Saturdays, by the name of Wilma. This was the beginning of their true romance that lasted more than 70 years including their courtship, engagement, and nearly 68 years of marriage!
Cecil and Wilma were married on March 28, 1953, in Aiken, South Carolina, just a few short months after Cecil was drafted into the Army. They were stationed at Ft. Gordon in Georgia; Ft. Monmouth in New Jersey and then at Ft. Riley in Kansas. He was a squad leader who was qualified as a high speed radio operator sending and receiving morse code at the rate of sixty words per minute. He and three others instructed basic trainees as well.
Shortly after discharge from the army in December 1954, Cecil started working for the Fourth National Bank in Wichita, Kansas in the Consumer Loan Department. Later he transferred to the Trust Department where he worked for many years as a Trust Auditor. After nearly 37 years with the bank, he retired in September 1991.
In his younger years, Cecil was very involved in Scouting, Hunter Safety, and the Optimist Club where he served as President on two occasions. He and Wilma were very active in church. Cecil held many positions which included program chairman for the “65ers” group, a vital member of the Cooks Night Out work crew, counting collections on Sunday, and serving as a welcome greeter. He never met a stranger, made friends easily, and always made sure everybody felt welcomed. He was quick to react to any situation at hand. A perfect example includes performing the Heimlich maneuver on a couple of young children at family gatherings.
Cecil and Gary were able to go on the Kansas Honor Flight to Washington, DC in 2015. He thoroughly enjoyed that experience and hoped every veteran has the opportunity to do the same.
Cecil was a huge sports fan. He loved cheering for the Wichita State Shockers, Kansas Jayhawks, Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals. He was one of the best “arm chair” refs around!
Cecil loved vanilla ice cream, root beer floats, and NuWay sandwiches. But more than anything else he loved God, his family, and friends. He and Wilma did almost everything together. Family time was always very important to him. He felt blessed to spend time with any and all of his family and friends. He cherished those times. He especially loved spending time with his children, his son-in-law, his granddaughters, and his grand son-in-law. Other special times included playing with his great grandsons and having them stay for lunch with him and Great Grandma.
We “sorrow but do not grieve as others do who have no hope” I Thessalonians 4:13 (ESV) Cecil would say “I love you; I miss you; but I’m having a great time. Hope to see you later!
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established with: Kansas Honor Flight, 401 W. 1st Ave., Hutchinson, KS 67501 or Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church, 5701 E. Mt. Vernon St., Wichita, KS 67218 .
November 25, 1931 – December 19, 2020
Cecil passed away on December 19, 2020, at the age of 89. He was the seventh son born to Albert J. and Clara Ida Marie Ambrose on November 25, 1931, in the small town of Roper, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Albert, Wilbur, Eugene, Vertis, Marvin, and Don and infant sister, Darlene. Cecil is survived by his truelove Wilma, their two children: Charlotte Barton (James) and Gary Ambrose; two granddaughters: Erica Barton and Jessica Chippeaux (Joshua); three great grandsons: Alexander, Austin, and Asa Chippeaux; one brother Norman; and two sisters Arlene Howrey and Nadine Green.
Prior to Cecil’s graduation from Benedict High School in Benedict, Kansas in 1949, he held his first job at the local post office in town. After school he would sort all the mail for a whopping sum of 25¢ per day! Later during the summers while in high school, he worked for the Hillroad Shows Movie Company, showing movies in small towns throughout South Central Kansas. While showing in Melvern, Cecil would visit the local hardware store to pick up parts for the trucks. He became quite smitten with a young hometown girl, who worked there after school and on Saturdays, by the name of Wilma. This was the beginning of their true romance that lasted more than 70 years including their courtship, engagement, and nearly 68 years of marriage!
Cecil and Wilma were married on March 28, 1953, in Aiken, South Carolina, just a few short months after Cecil was drafted into the Army. They were stationed at Ft. Gordon in Georgia; Ft. Monmouth in New Jersey and then at Ft. Riley in Kansas. He was a squad leader who was qualified as a high speed radio operator sending and receiving morse code at the rate of sixty words per minute. He and three others instructed basic trainees as well.
Shortly after discharge from the army in December 1954, Cecil started working for the Fourth National Bank in Wichita, Kansas in the Consumer Loan Department. Later he transferred to the Trust Department where he worked for many years as a Trust Auditor. After nearly 37 years with the bank, he retired in September 1991.
In his younger years, Cecil was very involved in Scouting, Hunter Safety, and the Optimist Club where he served as President on two occasions. He and Wilma were very active in church. Cecil held many positions which included program chairman for the “65ers” group, a vital member of the Cooks Night Out work crew, counting collections on Sunday, and serving as a welcome greeter. He never met a stranger, made friends easily, and always made sure everybody felt welcomed. He was quick to react to any situation at hand. A perfect example includes performing the Heimlich maneuver on a couple of young children at family gatherings.
Cecil and Gary were able to go on the Kansas Honor Flight to Washington, DC in 2015. He thoroughly enjoyed that experience and hoped every veteran has the opportunity to do the same.
Cecil was a huge sports fan. He loved cheering for the Wichita State Shockers, Kansas Jayhawks, Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals. He was one of the best “arm chair” refs around!
Cecil loved vanilla ice cream, root beer floats, and NuWay sandwiches. But more than anything else he loved God, his family, and friends. He and Wilma did almost everything together. Family time was always very important to him. He felt blessed to spend time with any and all of his family and friends. He cherished those times. He especially loved spending time with his children, his son-in-law, his granddaughters, and his grand son-in-law. Other special times included playing with his great grandsons and having them stay for lunch with him and Great Grandma.
We “sorrow but do not grieve as others do who have no hope” I Thessalonians 4:13 (ESV) Cecil would say “I love you; I miss you; but I’m having a great time. Hope to see you later!
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established with: Kansas Honor Flight, 401 W. 1st Ave., Hutchinson, KS 67501 or Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church, 5701 E. Mt. Vernon St., Wichita, KS 67218 .