Stanley Applegate

Stanley Applegate passed away on August 24, 2018 at the Gardens, the assisted living wing of Dalton’s Royal Oaks senior living complex. He was 97. A long time Georgia resident in his retirement, Mr. Applegate spent most of his professional career working in Educational Development at the national level in countries across Latin America and in the Middle East. Where ever he lived, at home or abroad, he and his wife Marjorie dedicated much of their private time and effort to the service of others, whether it involved orphanages in Mexico and Egypt, or individuals in towns where they lived. Stan and Marge opened their hearts, and often their home, to provide support, encouragement, and love to folks at pivotal times in their lives.

After he retired from the U.S. Foreign Service, Stan turned his energies to a number of creative endeavors. He and Marjorie traveled extensively throughout the state of Tennessee and researched its early history. Stan wrote a pair of novels set on the Natchez Trace during the war of 1812. Later, he took up charcoal figure drawing and clay sculpture at the local creative arts guild – despite the onset of macular degeneration, as he found that intense focus on projects such as these seemed to alleviate the symptoms of his Parkinson’s disease.

A voracious reader, even as his eyesight failed him, Stan continued to consume a couple of audio books a week – novels, often, but also more serious works on a favorite topic, religion. He eagerly sought new interpretations of Bible passages that had always puzzled or disturbed him. Sunday school was a favorite venue for exploring these ideas with others. His goal, always, was to deepen his faith with the answers that he found.

Stan loved conversations with friends about books and ideas, music and film. He looked forward to his weekly luncheon with friends at Royal Oaks. They delighted in challenging each other to ponder things in ways they had not done before.

Stan’s legendary sense of humor and good cheer ranged from horrible spontaneous puns to long winded and intricate jokes – always followed by a contagious belly laugh. In the morning, more often than not, he would wake up singing. Even in his final days, as the staff helped him get up and get dressed for the day, he would often lead them in a joyful rendition of “Clielito Lindo.”

A man with an indomitable spirit and a rare generosity of heart, Stan Applegate is survived by a son, three daughters, four granddaughters, two grandsons, three great-grandsons, a great grandchild due in September, four “adoptees,” and many, many dear friends.

Funeral Services will be held at 1:30pm Saturday, September 1 ^st at Christ the King Lutheran Church on Thornton Ave. in Dalton. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made either to the “Dalton Family Support Council’s Camp Aim” or to “The Residents of Royal Oaks Scholarship Fund” (care of Laura Sangster, Director of Royal Oaks).

The family also expresses the deepest gratitude both to the folks at Hamilton Hospice and to the staff at The Gardens and the wider Royal Oaks community for the unparalleled loving support they gave him in his final weeks.