William Earl Ambrose, 97, of Bethlehem Township, passed away on May 9, 2018, at home.  Born in Foneswood, VA, William was the son of Julian E. and Viola M. (Hall) Ambrose.  He was a field worker for B.L. Battaile, Jr. in Foneswood, and served in the Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration until moving to Bethlehem to work as a laborer at the Bethlehem Steel Coke Oven Division in October, 1941.  Drafted into the U.S. Army Air Force in December, 1942, he served as a corporal with Squadron M, 301st Army Air Force Base Unit attached to the 5th Army; later attached to the 3rd and 12th Air Forces.  He served two years Continental service and one year Foreign service on Corsica and in Italy.  Upon discharge in November, 1945, William returned to the Coke Works as an Exhaust Engineer helper in the Coke By-products and Benzol plant.  He married Elizabeth I. Kohn in April, 1946.  In 1971 he was promoted to Saturator Operator and again in 1973 to Naphthalene Operator, and finally was promoted to the position of Exhaust House Engineer in 1974.  He was a member of the United Steel Workers Local 2600.  He retired from the Coke Works in 1986 having 44 years of service without missing a day of work.  He took a second job as tractor operator for Bluegrass Lawns by George in 1966 and retired again in 1989.  Through 32 years of retirement, William enjoyed gardening and traveling, and continued to live at home and tend his lawn until the day he passed away.

He is survived by daughter, Paulette Ruppert of Bangor; son, David Ambrose, and wife Lynne of Bath; sister, Frances Harrison of Mechanicsville, VA; granddaughter, Michelle Hernandez, and husband Antonio and great-granddaughter, Laylah of Breinigsville.  He was predeceased by his wife in 1995.  He was also predeceased by sisters, Anna Reamy, Rose Daley, brothers, Edward, John, George and Harvey, son-in-law, Larry Ruppert and granddaughter, Kimberly Ruppert.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 16, in the Pearson Funeral Home, 1901 Linden Street, Bethlehem.  Family and friends may call Tuesday, May 15, from 7 - 8:30 p.m.

Donations in William's memory may be made to the National Museum of Industrial History, 602 E. Second Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015.  Online condolences may be sent to www.pearsonfh.com.