The Rev. Ancel Frederick Wampler, 97, of De Soto died Oct. 27, 2022, at Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City. Rev. Wampler was a retired welder/pipefitter with the St. Louis Shipyard and a World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy. He served as pastor for many Assembly of God churches. Born July 13, 1925, in River Mines, he was the son of the late Frederick Thomas and Edith Mae (Hawthorne) Wampler. He was preceded in death by two wives: Lucille F. (Womack) Wampler and Esther L. (Wisdom) Chandler Wampler.
He is survived by five children: Carolyn Jean (Paul) Hasty of Farmington, Byron Ancil (Kathy) Wampler of Granite City, Ill., Marilyn Sue (Billy) Green of Desloge, Elaine Moore of De Soto and Kenneth Leroy (Anna Marie) Wampler of De Soto; a sister: Alma Jean (the late Jimmy) Matthews of Washington Park, Ill.; two sisters-in-law: Beulah Wallace of Festus and Connie Wampler of Hillsboro; five grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by nine siblings: Ruth Christine (Henry) Wampler-Arnett, Marjorie Geraldine “Vergie” (Wilford) Wampler-Stagner, Lyman Paul (Evelyn) Wampler, Donald Lee Wampler, Bonnie June (Bill) Wampler-Todd, Dorthy Mae (Gene) Wampler-Dillard, Jimmie Dale Wampler, Jackie Ray Wampler and Dannie Gideon Wampler; one grandchild; one great-grandchild; and one great-great-grandchild.
Visitation is scheduled from 9 a.m. until a funeral service at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022, at Dietrich-Mothershead Funeral Home, 200 N. Main St., in De Soto, officiated by Byron Wampler and Stacey Wilson. Burial is in the National Cemetery at Jefferson Barracks. Arrangements are under the direction of Dietrich-Mothershead Funeral Home.