1948
John
2023
John Howard Applegate
June 29, 1948 — September 17, 2023
John Howard Applegate passed from this life September 17, 2023, surrounded by loved ones.
He was born on June 29, 1948, in Point Pleasant, NJ, to Leroy Applegate and Evelyn Mae Edwards, in the same hospital as his paternal grandmother, Jenny Houghton.
John was raised in Galveston, TX, and spent his childhood on a continuous adventure even Huckleberry Finn would admire. His favorite playmates and friends were his brothers, Robert Applegate and Steven Applegate. As young adventurers, they climbed abandoned buildings and chased and caught pigeons, starting in fourth grade. One place they called "Big Little" because they would catch big pigeons and little pigeons. It was an old machine shop. McDonald's hamburgers were $.25, and gas was $.19 per gallon.
He was raised in a big family with seven children. He substituted hunger with adventure. When their parents would go to the bars at night, they would give them money to get hamburgers from Dairy Queen. As a teenager, his favorite person to hang out with was his big brother, Bruce, who would sketch girls on the beach in Galveston.
John was a very dedicated and tenacious worker. He took up a work/study program in high school and did half a day at each location. Winn-Dixie and 7-Eleven were high school jobs, and after a failed attempt at Texas A&M, he enlisted in the US Air Force. The drafting station asked why he wanted to go in and he said to follow in the footsteps of his brothers. John went to USAF basic training in Amarillo, TX. It closed soon after. He earned several ribbons of meritorious service. He was well-decorated. And he also earned a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Maryland.
John had an amazing and adventurous military career. He served from April 1968 – December 1988. He was stationed in Greece, Japan, Korea, Massachusetts, Texas, and Alabama. After "retiring," he started a moving business for 30 years. He was passionate about helping people and worked with the SBA disaster response as well as FEMA. John finally retired in 2017.
John was a jokester. He loved laughing at the expense of people and animals he loved.
Ironically, he was a very sad person. He used alcohol to cope which took his life. He went out the way he wanted to.
John was the happiest in nature. He loved camping, sailing, fishing, and was especially fond of dragging the seine (net). When it was time to pull it in, people up and down the beach would go in the water and help him and be as excited as he was to see the ocean treasures. His greatest accomplishment was retiring from the USAF. And his favorite country to visit was Okinawa, Japan. He was stationed there from 1983-1986. He took his daughters snorkeling and created the love of exploring and adventure in their hearts. He also took delight in tossing them in the middle of the ocean while they objected. Such a jokester.
John was a man of faith, little faith. Matthew 17:20 states, "He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there, and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." John is in heaven, celebrating Jesus with his predecessors: father, Leroy Applegate, mother, Evelyn Mae Edwards, paternal grandparents Leroy Applegate, Sr. and Jenny Houghton-Applegate, maternal grandparents, Clyde Edwards and Lillian McCall-Edwards, Mean Aunt Jean Edwards-Varvil, favorite Uncle Theron "Whitey" Varvil, Uncle Bill Edwards and wife Jean Edwards-Varvil, favorite Uncle Theron
"Whitey" Varvil, Uncle Bill Edwards and wife Barb.
He is survived by his legacy: John Scott Applegate and Amber of Mansfield, TX, Christina Applegate, Jonica Applegate of Tucson, AZ, and Joshua Applegate and Casey of Limestone, TN. He also leaves behind grandchildren: Storm, Koreanna, Shiloh, Soleil, Sophia, Landry, Connor, Koreay, Sylus, Liam, and Everly.
John is the first of his siblings to go. He also leaves behind Bruce Coryell of San Marcos, TX, Kathleen Jamison of Raleigh, NC, Robert Applegate and Erin of Spring, TX, Steven Applegate of Beaumont, TX, Richard Applegate and Barbara of St. Louis, MO, and David Applegate and Debra of Beaumont, TX. He also leaves behind numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and his fur family: Cooper, Dusty, Tasha, and Girl.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in John's name to the VA, American Diabetes Association, or any animal organization.
He was born on June 29, 1948, in Point Pleasant, NJ, to Leroy Applegate and Evelyn Mae Edwards, in the same hospital as his paternal grandmother, Jenny Houghton.
John was raised in Galveston, TX, and spent his childhood on a continuous adventure even Huckleberry Finn would admire. His favorite playmates and friends were his brothers, Robert Applegate and Steven Applegate. As young adventurers, they climbed abandoned buildings and chased and caught pigeons, starting in fourth grade. One place they called "Big Little" because they would catch big pigeons and little pigeons. It was an old machine shop. McDonald's hamburgers were $.25, and gas was $.19 per gallon.
He was raised in a big family with seven children. He substituted hunger with adventure. When their parents would go to the bars at night, they would give them money to get hamburgers from Dairy Queen. As a teenager, his favorite person to hang out with was his big brother, Bruce, who would sketch girls on the beach in Galveston.
John was a very dedicated and tenacious worker. He took up a work/study program in high school and did half a day at each location. Winn-Dixie and 7-Eleven were high school jobs, and after a failed attempt at Texas A&M, he enlisted in the US Air Force. The drafting station asked why he wanted to go in and he said to follow in the footsteps of his brothers. John went to USAF basic training in Amarillo, TX. It closed soon after. He earned several ribbons of meritorious service. He was well-decorated. And he also earned a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Maryland.
John had an amazing and adventurous military career. He served from April 1968 – December 1988. He was stationed in Greece, Japan, Korea, Massachusetts, Texas, and Alabama. After "retiring," he started a moving business for 30 years. He was passionate about helping people and worked with the SBA disaster response as well as FEMA. John finally retired in 2017.
John was a jokester. He loved laughing at the expense of people and animals he loved.
Ironically, he was a very sad person. He used alcohol to cope which took his life. He went out the way he wanted to.
John was the happiest in nature. He loved camping, sailing, fishing, and was especially fond of dragging the seine (net). When it was time to pull it in, people up and down the beach would go in the water and help him and be as excited as he was to see the ocean treasures. His greatest accomplishment was retiring from the USAF. And his favorite country to visit was Okinawa, Japan. He was stationed there from 1983-1986. He took his daughters snorkeling and created the love of exploring and adventure in their hearts. He also took delight in tossing them in the middle of the ocean while they objected. Such a jokester.
John was a man of faith, little faith. Matthew 17:20 states, "He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there, and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." John is in heaven, celebrating Jesus with his predecessors: father, Leroy Applegate, mother, Evelyn Mae Edwards, paternal grandparents Leroy Applegate, Sr. and Jenny Houghton-Applegate, maternal grandparents, Clyde Edwards and Lillian McCall-Edwards, Mean Aunt Jean Edwards-Varvil, favorite Uncle Theron "Whitey" Varvil, Uncle Bill Edwards and wife Jean Edwards-Varvil, favorite Uncle Theron
"Whitey" Varvil, Uncle Bill Edwards and wife Barb.
He is survived by his legacy: John Scott Applegate and Amber of Mansfield, TX, Christina Applegate, Jonica Applegate of Tucson, AZ, and Joshua Applegate and Casey of Limestone, TN. He also leaves behind grandchildren: Storm, Koreanna, Shiloh, Soleil, Sophia, Landry, Connor, Koreay, Sylus, Liam, and Everly.
John is the first of his siblings to go. He also leaves behind Bruce Coryell of San Marcos, TX, Kathleen Jamison of Raleigh, NC, Robert Applegate and Erin of Spring, TX, Steven Applegate of Beaumont, TX, Richard Applegate and Barbara of St. Louis, MO, and David Applegate and Debra of Beaumont, TX. He also leaves behind numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and his fur family: Cooper, Dusty, Tasha, and Girl.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in John's name to the VA, American Diabetes Association, or any animal organization.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John Howard Applegate, please visit our flower store.
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