Florence Gross-Applefield

Florence Gross Applefield, loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend, died on Friday, December 12, 2014, at age 90, in Athens, Georgia. Flo was like a mother to many, including Peggy Bradford and Nancy Nunn, her devoted caregivers. She had a special connection with countless friends.

Flo was preceded in death by her first husband, Walter Gross, and her second husband, Milton "Apple" Applefield. Flo is survived by her children Linda Gail Leon, Arleene Sue Estrada and Marshall Jay Ross, her sons-in-law Bruce Leon and Miguel Estrada, her grandchildren, Joshua Gross, Leah Gross and Michelle Leon, her sister-in-law Mollie Gross, and her cousin Renée Kessler. She is also survived by her stepchildren Brian Applefield, James Applefield, Gerald Applefield, Edward Applefield and their wives.

Flo was born in 1924 in New York City. Her parents, Molly and Bernard Geld, are both deceased, as are her brothers, Meyer Geld and Isadore Geld. She was married for 54 years to Walter Gross, emeritus professor of Marketing at the University of Georgia. She was later married for 8 years to "Apple" Applefield, who was a research forester at the U.S. Forest Service. Flo was a distinguished artist, having painted hundreds of wonderful oil paintings, watercolors and mixed-media art works. She was a charter member, past president and secretary of the Visual Arts Guild and displayed at the Loef Gallery. Flo served as a docent at the Georgia Museum of Art and was a member of the Friends of the Museum and the Friends of the Georgia Botanical Garden. She worked for the Department of Family Services. In addition, she was active with the Athens Area Emergency Food Bank, the University of Georgia Women's Club and Congregation Children of Israel in Athens, and too many other organizations to list here.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, December 16, at Congregation Children of Israel Cemetery, in Oconee Hill Cemetery, with Rabbi Eric Linder officiating. Shiva will be at the Congregation Children of Israel, 115 Dudley Drive in Athens, at 6:00 pm. Online tributes may be made at www.bernsteinfuneralhome.com.

Bernstein Funeral Home and Cremation Service are in charge of arrangements.