Joseph Ambrose

Joseph Ambrose, 86, of Bethany, PA, passed away at home. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lois Ambrose on January 23, 2003.

He was born on November 5, 1937 to Stephen and Anna Stasik Ambrose. He grew up in Clinton Township and attended Waymart High School. He served in the U.S. Air Force where he learned the skill of computer programming.

Joseph dabbled in many things throughout his life; however, he started and ended with jobs in computer programming. He began in New York City for Chase Manhattan Bank and the New York Stock Exchange and ended at Tobyhanna Army Depot. In between, he ran a gas station, dabbled in insurance, owned an upholstery business, was a taxi driver, and was a school bus driver. In his retirement years, worked at Walmart in Honesdale; but he is probably most remembered as a bus driver for the Jenkins’ family for the Western Wayne School District. He was well-liked by those who were on his daily route because he was a pretty cool bus driver. He often made sure he was the assigned bus driver for sporting events, mostly the ones his children were involved in, because he loved to watch those games and cheer them on.

Throughout his life, Joseph enjoyed bowling, fishing, hitting golf balls in his back yard, flea markets, auctions, watching old TV shows, going for a drive, tinkering with cars, and people-watching. He bowled for many years and achieved the perfect game of 300 multiple times and was the first to do so at Wallenpaupack (the original one). He was inducted into the Wayne Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1995. In his later years, he loved to watch the horse races and dabble in the stock market. He wrote a computer program long ago that he still used to assist him with choosing the right stocks and even one for choosing horses. He was always analyzing everything, which kept him busy as well. He loved watching Benny Hill, listening to Rush Limbaugh and AM radio. He often quoted Popeye, “I am what I am and that’s all that I am.” If you knew him, you would understand how accurate that was. There was no changing Joe Ambrose, and he was not going to do anything he didn’t want to do.

Joseph was a loving and devoted father. He will be deeply missed by his son Joseph Ambrose, son James Ambrose, and daughter Jennifer Mang and her husband, Wayne. He had one grandson, Mark Ambrose. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Steve Ambrose and John “Jack” Ambrose, as well as a sister, Anna Poltanis. He is survived by his ex-wife, Patricia Ambrose.

There will be no public service at this time. A celebration of life event will be planned for some time in the future. Memorial contributions can be made to St. John the Evangelist, 414 Church St. Honesdale. Arrangements made by Hessling Murray Funeral Home, 428 Main St. Honesdale.