Sylvester was born on May 13, 1926 in San Bernardino County, to John Jacob and Rachel Martin Ambrose. He often said he grew up in “Kid Paradise”, living in a house provided by the Gage Canal Company at the corner of Waterman and Barton road. He considered the entire valley as his playground. He graduated from Colton High School in 1944 and immediately joined the Army Air Corp. He married Helen Kilbourn in 1951 and moved to Bloomington, CA where he lived until moving into Wildwood Canyon Villa, in Yucaipa, 2010. The couple welcomed three children into their home and they remember their father as a kind, fun-loving man who encouraged them to pursue their goals.
He enjoyed working at Dill Lumber Company, in Bloomington, CA, and socializing with his coworkers and their families. He remembered them fondly forever. As his family grew, he reluctantly left Dill Lumber in order to advancer his career. He attended San Bernardino Valley College at night and earned a degree in Industrial Supervision. He moved into inside sales, where he excelled, and worked for several local building supply companies, finally retiring from Lifetile in 1998.
Sylvester was an accomplished leather artist and made many beautiful and practical gifts for family and friends. He loved music, dancing, and traveling and managed to explore, with his family, all 48 contiguous states as well as parts of Canada and Mexico. He taught his children to sing and danced whenever and wherever he got the chance. He was passionate about airplanes and motorcycles and attended air shows whenever possible. He was a dedicated member of the Masonic Lodge and maintained his membership until his death. He was a thoughtful, generous man who believed in charity and performed random acts of helpfulness.
Sylvester is survived by his children, Dennis Ambrose and his wife, Sylvia, of Kingman, AZ, and Wendy Mispagel and her husband, Rich, of Cherry Valley, CA. He has four grandchildren, Natasha Cinkosky, Adam and Michelle Ambrose, Allen Ambrose, and AJ and Kyna Ambrose; and 4 great grandchildren Tye, Lillian, Addelyn, and Emily.
A funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m., Monday, June 4, 2018, at Montecito Memorial Park in Colton, California, with a reception to follow at 8790 Apple Tree Lane, Cherry Valley, California.
The family would like to thank the staff of Wildwood Canyon Villa for Sylvester’s excellent care and entertainment. You added length and quality to his life.
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