Obituary of Joseph Wambach

Joseph Wambach Jr., he had many friends Seven years ago Joseph Wambach Jr. suffered a stroke that would have killed most people. It left the Fort Wright resident unable to speak or move his right arm or leg. In spite of the paralysis, he found ways to communicate and make friends, said his wife, Sherry Wambach. She started taking him to Wednesday night services at First Church of Christ in Burlington, which he enjoyed. Then he suffered another stroke, and his wife could no longer care for him at home. He became a resident at the Baptist Village in Erlanger. "He was a trouper," she said. "He still managed to reach out to people in the nursing home." Mr. Wambach died Sunday at 77 in St. Luke Hospital West in Florence. He was born in Cincinnati and graduated from Withrow High School. After graduation, he served three years in the Navy, then worked at U.S. Steel for 30 years, becoming a personnel manager. After taking early retirement, he became a training developer for the pharmaceutical company Marion Merrell Dow, making training videotapes. He worked there for about seven years, and also used his video skills to make personal videos for occasions such as anniversaries. "He was very creative and talented," his wife said. "He never took a lesson, but he could sit down and play the piano." About eight years ago, he helped found Matthew: 25 Ministries, a Cincinnati-based Christian relief agency. Mr. Wambach also had a lifelong interest in aviation. As a boy, he flew radio-controlled model airplanes. As an adult, he belonged to the Greater Cincinnati Radio Control Club and edited the group's newsletter. He also obtained a pilot's license, and enjoyed flying rented Cessna Skyhawks out of Lunken Airport. He was a member of Walnut Hills Baptist Church, Cincinnati. Other survivors include a daughter, Melissa Schneider of Savannah, Ga.; a son, Joseph Wambach III of West Chester, Ohio; stepsons, Kevin Storn and Brian Storn, both of Cincinnati; a sister, Louise Wells of St. Petersburg, Fla.; a brother, Edward Wambach of Cincinnati; and four grandchildren. Memorial services will be at noon Wednesday at First Church of Christ, Burlington. Visitation will begin there at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Memorials are suggested to First Church of Christ, 6080 Camp Ernst Road, Burlington, Ky. 41005; Matthew: 25 Ministries, 11060 Kenwood Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45245; or Walnut Hills Baptist Church, 2386 Kemper Lane, Cincinnati, Ohio 45206. Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, Florence, is handling arrangements.