Jean Ambler

Jean Carlton Whitaker Ambler

Loving wife of Jack Ambler, devoted mother of five sons, and leader in the volunteer community, died April 24 at age 93 at home.

Refined and stylish, she loved and excelled at bridge and tennis which brought her together with many friends over the years. She helped instill a competitive but fair temperament in her sons playing many family tennis battles well into her 70s. She was recently inducted into the St. Paul Academy and Summit School Athletic Hall of Fame for her three-sport prowess during high school.

She loved the monthly dinner gatherings attended by 30-plus family members covering four generations. A wonderful artist with a keen eye, her flair for design was ever present in all she touched.

Jean was daughter of the late Florence Carlton Seeger and Richard P. Carlton, a past president of 3M Company and whom the Carlton Society is named after.

She was on the Children's Hospital Board of Directors; trustee of St. Paul Academy; first woman on the Board of Regents of St. John's College; president of the Junior League of St. Paul; member of the President's Council at St. Catherine's University, and first president of the Minnesota Children's Museum.

An earlier marriage to William Whitaker provided five sons who survive her: William (Patricia), Jack (Susan), Charles (Julie), Douglas (Katherine), Steven (Shannon), 11 grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren; Jack Ambler's children Denice (John) Kludt; Sherry (Pat) Egan; Bob (Dianne) Ambler, Jill Christophersen and their 12 children.

She was preceded in death by sisters Joyce Hartzell and Dorothy Foussard.

Service at House of Hope Presbyterian Church at a later date.

Memorials preferred to St. Paul Academy or Children's Hospital St. Paul.