Rev. Dr. Virgil Applegate

Reverend Dr. Virgil Paul Applegate, age 87 of Middletown, passed away Thursday, March 20, 2014 at the Hospice of Butler and Warren Counties. He was born August 23, 1926 in Manchester, Ohio the son of Reverend William and Mary Scott Applegate. Virgil served in the US Army in the South Pacific during WWII. He began his career in education as a teacher, coach and administrator in the public schools. Virgil was called to the Ministry and served 35 years as a Nazarene Pastor in Northwestern and Southwestern Ohio. In his retirement years, he served as interim pastor, evangelist and college professor. Through his teaching, coaching and preaching, Virgil touched hundreds of lives in a powerful way. He will be deeply missed. Virgil is survived by his daughter, Paula Lucas of Aliso Viejo, California; a son, Ron wife, Rose of Ithaca, New York; grandchildren, Benjamin wife, Jessica and Nicholas Applegate, Roxanne, Ethan, and Bryan Lucas; great grandchildren, Ian and Reeve Applegate; and companion, Catherine Deaton. Virgil was known as "Uncle Buddy" to his three nephews and six nieces. He was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Stears Applegate in 2009; his son-in-law, Larry Lucas; his parents; his sisters, Dorothy Applegate Minton and Mary Ruth Leasoure; and nieces, Twilla Hauke and Carrie Fay Stears.

Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Tuesday at the First Church of the Nazarene. Visitation will be 6-8:00 PM Monday at the Breitenbach-McCoy-Leffler Funeral Home. Burial will be at the Butler County Memorial Park with Military Honors by the United States Army Honor Guard.