Thomas Hood Applewhite, born December 30, 1924, transitioned into the church triumphant May 22, 2012. He was born in the family tent near Imperial, California to Thomas Ted and Lottie Lea (McCamey) Applewhite and grew up in Southern California.
Following service in the U.S. Navy (1942-45) he married Harriet M. Kaplan, studied at Pasadena City College and the California Institute of Technology, receiving his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry and Plant Physiology in 1957. In the San Francisco Bay area Dr. Applewhite was a Research Chemist with the Dow Chemical Company and the U.S.D.A. Western Regional Lab, Research Director for Pacific Vegetable Oil Corporation, and retired after serving as Director of Research Services at Kraft, Inc., Glenview, Illinois. He was a member of the American Chemical Society, American Oil Chemists' Society, Institute of Food Technologists, National Association of Margarine Manufacturers, Institute of Shortening and Edible Oils, Sigma Xi, and The United Soybean Board. He served six years as Editor of the Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society and was Founding Editor of INFORM (International News on Fats, Oils and Related Materials) from 1990-1993. Recognized worldwide as leader in the field of fats, oils, and oilseeds he was the recipient of the NAMM Service Award, AOCS Alton E. Bailey Award and the A. Richard Baldwin Distinguished Service Award, the USB Meritorious Service Award, and the Kraft Merit Award.
Tom loved to fish, camp, garden, travel the world and round and square dance. He was an active member of the Presbyterian Church and devoted father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Tom was preceded in death by his mother, father, half-sister, Anna Lea Fishbaugh; and wife Harriet. He is survived by daughter, Pam and husband, Bill Burke; son, Ted and partner, Moira McCarthy; granddaughter, Tamara Lea and husband, Brent Acuff; grandson, Billy Burke and wife, Tyfany Boettcher-Burke; great-granddaughter, Bailey Hope Acuff; great-grandsons, Kiernan and Kincade Boettcher-Burke; nephews, John Custance, Alva Bennett, Bob and Bill Turnbull, Rudy Kaplan III, John Vandenberg; and nieces, Susan Lester and Suzie Kaplan-King.
A memorial service is planned at Hope Presbyterian Church, 11512 Olson Drive, Austin, TX 78750, for Saturday, June 2, 2012 at 11.a.m. with a reception to follow in the Fellowship Hall.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Hope Presbyterian Church (Generation to Generation fund), or Hospice Austin, 4107 Spicewood Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78759. The family wishes to thank all of the wonderful staff at Heartland Healthcare Center who made Tom's last years as comfortable as possible.
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