Joseph Jay Applegate

Joseph Jay Applegate passed away peacefully on April 13, 2026. Joe was born on October 21,1953 in Cheyene, Wyoming. He grew up with his loving parents, William and Barbara Applegate and younger sister, Melody. His father was active in both US Navy and Army and the family moved as needed, including an extended amount of time in Germany. Joe graduated high school in 1971 in New Hampshire and began his studies and degree at The University of Tennessee.

He enlisted into the United States Army in 1973 in Manchester, New Hampshire. During the next eight years, Joe achieved special leadership training, worked as medical laboratory technician, nuclear powerplant specialist, and defense project management. He earned a distinguished service medal, good conduct medal, and expert with rifle bar M-16 badge.

In 1975, Joe married his beautiful and cherished wife, Linda. They met while both stationed at Fort Jackson in South Carolina. They shared over 50 loving years together and three children: William, Donna, and Denise. Over the years, the family grew to include two sons-in-law, daughter-in-law, ten grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren with two more great-grandchildren on the way.

After retiring from the Army in 1980, he joined a company called Instrumentation Laboratories as a biomedical engineer. His job included but not limited to selling, installing, and maintaining blood gas instruments used in hospitals. When the Houston Medical Center was booming in the 1980s, the family was relocated to Houston where they remain today. He was highly valued and respected. Joe achieved many awards including numerous presidential excellence awards and technician of the year. He retired after more than 40 years of service to his company as an executive tech specialist.

Joe left a profound and indelible mark on anyone who knew him. It was not just the friends and family who loved and respected him, but his colleagues, his customers and their staff members. He was highly intelligent, yet humble and modest. He loved baseball, golf, fishing, camping, and taught himself to play the guitar. You could find him tinkering around in his garage and meticulously maintaining his yard. He was loving, affable, supportive, and caring. Of all his jobs and callings in life, his greatest and proudest was as a husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. No matter how tired or busy he was, when he was with his family, he was fully present. He showed up to every game, recital, graduation, etc. He provided education, strong work ethic, commitment to excellence, laughter, fun, and unwavering love. He was extremely patient and understanding. He will be forever loved, respected, and missed. His legacy lives on in our hearts and memories.