Born on September 10, 1941 in a US Army Hospital, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Joseph Richard "Dick" Ambrose, Jr. was raised as an “Air Force Brat” moving from place to place. His mother, Kathleen O’Hara Ambrose, was from Yorktown, Virginia.
Dick graduated from Paris American High School in 1959 while his father was assigned to the United States Embassy in Paris, France. Subsequently, Dick attended Auburn University in Alabama. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1966. During his college years, Dick served in the Alabama Air National Guard.
Dick always considered Virginia as “home”. Upon graduation from Auburn, he moved to Richmond, Virginia where he was employed by the accounting firm, A.M. Pullen & Company. Later he met and married Sandra Jean Julian of White Stone in 1967. Shortly thereafter, Dick became an Internal Revenue Agent and worked throughout the Tidewater Area for over 21 years.
Dick also served as President of a real estate development company, York Shores, Inc. He helped develop York Shores Subdivision and Chiskiake Village in Gloucester Point, Virginia.
In 1997, Dick became the Principal Broker and owner of Yorktown Realty, Inc. which he operated until 2015.
He enjoyed such hobbies as amateur radio, RV trips in his travel trailer (especially with his grandkids) and flying. During his flying days, he became a Certified Flight Instructor and served as president of the Tidewater Flying Club in the early 1980’s.
Over the years, some of Dick’s most memorable activities were: Member of Gloucester County’s Economic Development Committee (1973-1974); Sons of the American Revolution, Williamsburg Chapter (Treasurer in 1993 and President in 1998); Airplane pilot for George Allen during his campaign for Governor in 1993; Member of the Hampton Roads Sanitation Commission (1997-2001); Representing York County on the Regional Issues Committee (2001-2006).
Dick is survived by his loving wife Sandra and their daughter, Cynthia A.Comose and son-in-law, Timothy Comose. He also has five grandchildren, Andrew Comose, Alexis Comose, Zachary Comose, Sophia Comose and Patrick Comose and a brother, William A. Ambrose of Midlothian, VA.