Mr. William “Denby” Ambrose, age 89 of 490 Ambrose Road, Pinetown passed away peacefully on February 17, 2018 at the Palliative Care Unit at Vidant Medical Center of Greenville. If you looked up Small Town Southern Man in a dictionary, you would find his name. He was a sweetheart always helping if you needed a leg up, trusting, kind, never meeting a stranger, slow to anger, and worked to provide for his family. He farmed many years using a Farmall tractor that did 4 rows at a time to buying combine to pick for the neighborhood. He welded at Texas Gulf in their beginning and was so proud of that big dragline he helped build. He was proud of the big trucks he helped construct at Hackney’s too. But the Pinetown area was most affected by his days at Waters Service Station (aka Denby’s). He ran that place from sunup to sundown for over 20 years with help from our mom, Thelma. He had the coldest beer, the best cheese, and a place where folks gathered to discuss the days’ events and the world’s problems while I heard he even baby sat at times for some. He made lifelong friends with the kids because every time they came they got a piece of candy for free. He knew how to run a business.
He knew how to treat a lady as well. His true love was Thelma Mae Waters. They were married for 45 years in sickness and health. They raised 3 daughters, Dennie Mae, Deborah Kaye, and Tammie Denise in a new perfect world. They were loved, cared for, and given the foundation to become strong women by exhibiting true generosity and establishing family values. His other wife was Edna Eastwood who preceded him on November 2005. He finished his life by having a sweetheart, Ms Illmar Nobles of Stokes, N.C. They danced, they travelled, they witnessed grandchildren’s weddings and births of their great grandkids together. Both lives were bettered by their courtship of 12 years.
He had 7 granddaughters to top off his world of women. They are Gina Everett Miller of Tasmania, Australia; Jennie Cook Poole of Belhaven, N.C., Joni Everett George of Cary, N.C, Christina Ambrose of Pinetown, Juli Everett Mills of Raleigh, N.C., Amanda Erin Cook of Belhaven, N.C., and Crystal Ambrose of Pinetown. They in turn blessed him with 6 great grandsons and 5 great granddaughters: Daymon, Samuel, Elizabeth, Alan, twins Jack & Sterling, Airlie, Allie Mae, Caspian, Lara and Logan William.
He was born to Fenner Isaac Ambrose and Lola Bowen Ambrose on May 19, 1928. His surviving siblings, are Geraldine Alligood, Isabelle Cantrell both of Washington, Sherrell Ambrose of Asheboro, N.C., Earl Ambrose of Sturgis, Michigan, Linwood Gray Ambrose and Linda Lou Johnson of Washington, N.C. He has two deceased sisters, Shirley Joyce Ambrose who died in infancy and Marie Boyd who passed last September 2017.
He was a member of the Improved Order of Red Men and Everett’s Crossroads Church of Christ in Pinetown. That is where is visitation and funeral will be held. Visitation will be Tuesday night from 6:00 to 9:00 PM in the Fellowship building. His funeral will be held Wednesday at 2:00 PM in the sanctuary, conducted by Dennis R. Davis and Stan Asby. Burial will follow in Oakdale Cemetery in Washington.
His pallbearers are Ted Baynor, Marvin Alligood, Stephen Poole, Bill Lurvey, Jerry Woolard and Mitchell Everett. Honorary pallbearers will be Eddie Kozelka, George Sullivan, Ray Sullivan, John Thompson, David Nobles, and Ed Asby.
In lieu of flowers, you may donate to the Everett’s Crossroads Church of Christ Building Fund, 22 S. White Post Road, Pinetown, N.C. 27865.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com
Paul Funeral Home & Crematory in Washington is honored to serve the Ambrose family.
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