Margaret "Granny" Applegate's Obituary
Margaret “Granny” Applegate, born in Elizabeth, New Jersey on December 21, 1926, was welcomed by Jesus on March 10, 2018 in Gainesville, Florida. She was a loving wife, mother, and friend who radiated the love and joy of her Lord, Jesus Christ, to all who knew her. She was a member of The Family Church since 2000. Her hobbies and interests included creative sewing, needlework, arts and crafts. It brought her great joy to share and hand-made crafts and gifts. She also loved sports, namely baseball and football, and kept several notebooks filled with game scores. Special treats including going with her daughter and “son” to watch the Florida Gators play baseball and one special occasion to see the Harlem Globe Trotters at the O’Connell Center.
She told us the best part of each day was the time she spent each morning enjoying fellowship with her Lord Jesus as she prayed, read her Bible and sang songs of praise. She often quoted passages from the Bible from memory and loved sharing a verse or a prayer with others throughout the day. She looked very much forward to the day she would see Jesus and enter her heavenly home and spoke often of that day. Also, the thought of seeing her beloved William Thomas Applegate, brought her great delight. Today it gives us peace and joy to know that which was her hope and dream is now her reality.
She married William Thomas Applegate in January of 1945 in Toms River, New Jersey, shortly before his discharge from the US Army. In 1956 they and their two daughters moved to Martin County, Florida where they worked in the commercial flower industry and eventually realized their dream of becoming owners of their own farm.
During her years in south Florida, she was a member of Rio Baptist Church, later becoming First Baptist of Jensen Beach, where she taught children in Sunday School and Vacation Bible School for many years. Upon moving to Hobe Sound around 1973, she became a member of First Baptist Church, Hobe Sound where she taught Sunday School and sang in the choir. During that time, she also volunteered at Crusaders Mission.
In January of 2000, she relocated to Gainesville, Florida to be near her daughter and son-in-law, Dick and Marge Wilcox. During the past 18 plus years, she has touched so many lives with God’s love through her church (The Family Church), and for over five years at her assisted Living (Hunters Crossing Place), and lastly at Terrace Rehab and Nursing. So many, many people have verbalized what a joy, blessing, encouragement and inspiration she has been to their lives.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Helen Vanden Eynde; father, Alphonse Vanden Eynde; husband, William Thomas Applegate; daughter, Wilma Applegate, and brother, Peter Vanden Eynde. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Marge and Dick Wilcox, grandson and “grand-daughter-in-law”, Steven and Becky Wilcox, and her great grandson, Grayson Wilcox.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of WILLIAMS-THOMAS FUNERAL HOME WESTAREA, 823 NW 143rd Street, with Rev. Sean Taylor officiating. A Graveside Service will be held Thursday, March 15, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. in All Saints Cemetery, Jensen Beach, Florida, with Rev. John Nelson officiating. In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made in her honor to The Family Church, 2022 SW 122nd Street, Gainesville, FL 32607, which supports a large variety of ministries and charities or to JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) jdrf.org.
What’s your fondest memory of Margaret?
What’s a lesson you learned from Margaret?
Share a story where Margaret's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Margaret you’ll never forget.
How did Margaret make you smile?
