Betty Ruth Applegate

Betty Ruth Applegate passed away peacefully August 15th, 2024, at the age of 90. She is survived by her son Bruce (wife Pamela), five grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by Major Henry Paris Applegate (Pete) her husband of seventy years, son Henry Keith, father and mother, four sisters, and two brothers. She was born August 16, 1933, in Sullivan County, Kingsport, TN. She attended Sullivan County High School where she played in the marching band. After her graduation she married her high school sweetheart, Pete. Pete joined the Marines and was deployed to Korea soon after their wedding and after his enlistment in the Marines he subsequently joined the Army and retired with the rank of Major. Betty embraced the role of an Army wife and they raised their two sons during his tours in Germany, Panama (canal) and various other postings. She also had single parenting duty as well during his combat tours in Korea and Vietnam. After Pete’s retirement they chose to make Hendersonville, TN their home for the rest of their lives. She and her husband continued to serve their community for over half a century. Betty was actively involved in supporting local education in Hendersonville and Sumner County. An example of this was in the late nineteen seventies when she helped resolve a school budget impasse by presenting a petition at a county magistrate meeting with over twenty thousand signatures demanding adoption of a tax increase which led to funding the school budget, another community service project was “Make a Difference Day” raising items for day care in Sumner County, she aided in getting a bridge named honoring the Korean Veterans in Sumner County, the Korean Veterans Memorial Bridge. She was recognized nationally for her efforts with numerous awards. Betty also began working at the Hendersonville Kmart in 1979 to initially to help pay for her son’s college tuition and continued working there for approximately 20 years. Visitation will take place Friday the 23rd from 6pm to 8pm at Memory Gardens in Hendersonville, TN with the graveside service at Saturday the 24th at 2 pm also at Hendersonville Memory Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests paying a kind act forward or making a donation for Betty's beloved Hendersonville community.