Kenneth E Ambrose

Kenneth Eugene Ambrose, of Monmouth, died at 6:00 A.M., Sunday June 21, 2009 at OSF Holy Family Medical Center in Monmouth. Kenneth was born in Mahomet, Illinois on November 14, 1925 to Curtis Emory and Lela Julia (Rickwood) Ambrose. He was the middle of three children. Kenneth attended Elementary through High School in Oblong, Illinois. He graduated at the age of 18 in 1943 and entered the Navy. Through the Navy, Kenneth entered into an accelerated collegiate program at Duke University for GI's who wanted to become doctors. He completed four years of college in three and one half years and medical school in two, graduating from Duke University in 1949 as a Doctor of Medicine. Following medical school he interned in Detroit, Michigan at Wayne County Hospital and completed his residency at the University of Iowa. In service to his country, Dr. Ambrose joined the Public Health Service. He was called to Washington DC where he screened people for Tuberculosis. He traveled to Mexico and throughout the southwestern United States performing chest exams, X-Rays and screening for TB, also serving as a physician on an Apache Indian Reservation in Arizona. Kenneth met Genevieve Rose Goldsmith, of Evansville Indiana. They married in Evansville on June 9, 1956. They made their first home in Carville, Louisiana where Kenneth served the U.S. Public Health Service for three years caring for patients with Hansen's Disease (Leprosy). In 1959 Dr. Ambrose moved his family to Monmouth, Illinois where he joined Dr. Glen Chamberlain in private medical practice, retiring in 1991. Kenneth and Genevieve lived in Monmouth for 50 years. During that time they raised three daughters, Susanna (born in 1957), Rebecca (born in 1958) and Carol (born in 1960). Kenneth served the community in many ways, including lifelong membership in the First United Methodist Church, where he served as an ordained lay speaker, Bible teacher, lay member to annual conference, a member of United Methodist Men, served in numerous leadership roles, participated in VIM (Volunteers In Mission), and enjoyed delivering sermon tapes and communion to those confined to their homes. Kenneth was a longtime member of the Monmouth Rotary Club, serving as Past President and a Paul Harris Fellow. He also served as Warren County Coroner for eight years. He was a lover of the arts and music. Kenneth enjoyed playing tennis and racket ball and was a long time member and supporter of the YMCA, serving on its board. He had a passion for flying, antique cars, Duke University, and of course for his family, wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. After retirement in 1991 Kenneth devoted his time to various mission trips. He also returned to the Public Health Service, where he served as a doctor on Native American Indian Reservations throughout the United States. Recently, Kenneth could be found volunteering in the Monmouth Public Schools or at the Hospital. In 2005 Kenneth was awarded the Monmouth School District Distinguished Service Award for longtime volunteer work in the Public Schools and as a Volunteer Physician on Mission Trips. Survivors include his wife Genevieve of Monmouth, three daughters: Susanna (Mark) Clark of Monmouth, Rebecca (V. Lance) Barnes of Onalaska Wisconsin, and Carol (Oscar) Guinn of Springfield Illinois; 5 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; his sisters Marjorie Deale of Franklin Indiana, Dorothy (Carl) Hippensteel of Findlay Ohio and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Curtis and Lela Ambrose, Hugh Deale (brother-in-law) and Hugh Rickwood Deale (nephew). Services:A memorial service will be at 1 P.M. Friday June 26, 2009 at the First United Methodist Church of Monmouth, with Rev. Jon Sims officiating. Friends may call Thursday June 25, 2009 at Turnbull Funeral Home where family will be present from 4:00 - 7:00 P.M. Memorials may be given to the First United Methodist Church of Monmouth or to OSF Holy Family Medical Center.