FERRISBURGH — William John Ambrose, Sr., 63, of Ferrisburgh, contended with his mortality more than 2.5 years post-stroke. Having faced one battle after another, his spirit yielded to God, calling him up from Middlebury at his time: 12:07 p.m. on Jan. 31, 2023.

Born on Dec. 18, 1959, in Burlington, Bill was the only child of Raymond George Ambrose (who died in 2013) and Janet May (Humiston) Ambrose (who died in 1987). Both sets of Bill’s grandparents engaged in farming in the town of Ferrisburgh, and his first work was on their farms. Bill was a commercial truck driver most of his career and worked for companies owned by his friends, neighbors, and relatives: including, the Humiston, Brace, and Bradford families.

His hobbies included hunting at the family deer camp on Sand Road, fishing at Otter Creek or Kingsland Bay State Park, and canning jam and salsa from his garden. He enjoyed barbeques, lawn-mowing, and celebrating holidays with his family. He was especially fond of driving a tractor in the Vergennes Memorial Day Parade and the Charlotte Tractor Parade.

Bill was married first to the mother of his children, Anne Marie Haskins on Dec. 31, 1987, at Panton, Vt., and second to Debra Darlene Gaudette on July 21, 1990, in Ferrisburgh.

Bill’s four children survive him: his eldest daughter, Rebecca Lyn Ambrose, of Salem, Ore.; twin daughters Sarah Marie Ambrose of Coos Bay, Ore.; and Elizabeth May Ambrose of North Bend, Ore.; and his son, Billy, Jr. of Waco, Texas. Six grandchildren survive him: Andrew Hermann and Tamisha Werst, both of Coos Bay, Robert Field III and Jadrienne Lemmer, from North Bend, and Keagen and Neveah Ambrose of Waco.  His stepson Reuben Haskins Ballard is living in Hickory, N.C.  His parents, grandparents, and spouses predeceased him.

The family extends eternal gratitude to James and Jeremiah Ouimette of Vergennes Law for their legal representation of our father and to Karlene Devine for helping our father stay connected to his beloved, squirrel-chasing beagle dog, Dexter.  We also thank Duprey Law and Joan Humiston.

In lieu of flowers, Bill’s final wish is for three dwarf apple trees to be planted on his land on Sand Road and for them to be cut and new ones planted in 5 years’ time.

Private cremation rites were held at Sanderson’s Funeral Service. Interment will be at Gage Cemetery in the spring. A celebration of life will be announced on a later date. ◊