Milton Applefield

Born in Trenton, NJ, “Apple,” as he was known by his multitude of friends, was the son of the late Irving and Bertha Meyerwich Applefield. Apple was preceded in death by his wife, Willie McComb Applefield; his wife, Ruth Rhodes Applefield; and his sister, Irene Applefield. A graduate of Curtis High School in Staten Island, NY, he attended Syracuse University where he earned a BS degree in Forestry in 1937. After World War II he used the GI Bill to study Forestry Management at Duke University, completing his Masters degree in 1948.

A member of the “Greatest Generation,” Apple served his country during World War II in the European campaign and in the Pacific with the US Army’s 1303 Engineers, Headquarters Company. Following the war he continued his career in forestry, working for a paper and a lumber company, for the Texas Forest Service, and for the US Forest Service for 18 years until his retirement in 1980.

Apple loved sports and was an avid tennis player in his adult years. He played varsity soccer and ran track in college, participated in Senior Olympics and played tennis regularly into his 90’s. To him exercise was an essential part of every day, something he did vigorously right to the very end of his life. For many years he experienced the joy of teaching tennis, the game for a lifetime, to scores of Athens-area children and adults. He was an active volunteer with the American Heart Association at Athens Regional Hospital. Another passion of his was telling jokes with great panache, hundreds of them - much to the pleasure of those who were his audience.

Survivors include his wife, Flo Gross Applefield; sons, Bryan Applefield (Helen), James Applefield, Gerald Applefield (Diane), and Edward Applefield (Bonny); step-daughters, Patsy Redd, Linda Leon (Bruce) and Arlene Estrada (Miguel); step-son Marshall Ross; 7 grandchildren - Scott Applefield (Laurie), Drew Applefield, Rachel Applefield, Eric Applefield (Austin), Nicki Applefield, Katie Applefield and Carolyn Applefield; 2 great-grandchildren, Alex and Annabeth Applefield; 3 step-grandchildren; 4 step-great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

The Applefield family would like to express its sincere gratitude to the staff of Arbor Terrace of Athens for their outstanding care and attention to Apple over the past several months, to the wonderful palliative care and family support provided by Gentiva Hospice in Athens, and to Dr. Miguel Jurado for his skilled and compassionate practice of medicine for the elderly and his extraordinary commitment to accessibility and communication with his patients and their families.

Funeral Services will be held on Monday, October 21, 2013 at 3 pm in the chapel at Bernstein Funeral Home with Dr. William Mounts officiating. Interment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the Funeral Home on Monday, October 21, 2013 from 1-3 pm, two hours prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations in Milton Applefield’s honor to: Alliance for Aging Research, American Heart Association, or Cancer Research Institute.

Condolences may be shared with the family online at www.bernsteinfuneralhome.com

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