Carolyn Applegate

APPLEGATE (Groves), CAROLYN age 84, of Miamisburg, Ohio, passed away on Saturday August 6, 2022.  She was born in New Castle, IN on May 17, 1938, to the late Clarence and Sarah (Rutledge) Groves. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas M. Applegate, grandson, Steven T. Applegate and foster son, Craig Reeder.  Carolyn is survived by her son Thomas Scott (Krisann) Applegate, daughter Teresa S. (Al) Scarpelli, son Trent Applegate, daughter-in-law Kate Reeder, grandchildren Julie (Matthew) Saco, Lisa Scarpelli, Thomas A. (Jaime) Applegate, great-grandson Andrew Saco, brothers Merlin (Evelyn) Groves, and Marvin (Margaret) Groves, sister-in-law Priscilla Duttenhaver, brother-in-law David (Sheila) Applegate, and many aunts, nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

Carolyn grew up on a farm in New Castle, helping her parents with many demanding farm chores.  She was a 1956 graduate of New Castle High School.  She also pursued part-time studies at Earlham College, Richmond, IN and Wilmington College, Wilmington, OH.  Carolyn married her husband Tom on June 14, 1957, at the New Castle Friends meeting, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). 

Carolyn provided immeasurable assistance to Tom while he was a Friends pastor in Economy Indiana, in Sabina OH, and for the team ministry in Clinton County, OH, and also when he taught for Dayton Public Schools, and coached the Dayton Dunbar High School boys basketball team and North Putnam IN girls basketball team.  Carolyn was always there to support him.  Being a Dayton Dunbar fan, she was one of the “ladies” in the stands as Dunbar players called them.  All the Dunbar teammates loved her, and many stayed in contact with her through the years.

Following marriage she worked as an assistant billing clerk at the Richmond Gas Office in Richmond, IN.  After moving to Sabina, OH and then to Wilmington, OH, she was an administrative assistant for Wilmington Friends Yearly Meeting, and later was part owner of the Quality Quaker Management company, managing three buildings consisting of apartments and assisted living units for seniors in Wilmington.

Carolyn loved sports and was an avid Reds and Bengals fan, owning Bengals season tickets for a few years and being a fan from their start at the first Bengals training camp in Wilmington. She was a fan of Ohio State and an enthusiastic Indiana University Hoosier fan.

Carolyn was a member of Dayton Friends Meeting and supported the Meeting financially and through participation on various committees. She had been clerk of the Meeting for a few years and most recently served on the Ministry and Oversight Committee.  She also had been a member of Quaker Concerns Committee for Quaker Heights, Waynesville, Ohio. She served food several years at St. Vincent de Paul Gateway Shelter for Women and Children. While still living in Wilmington she was a 4-H leader for young women at the Clinton County Children’s Home.  She would help others whenever needed.

Carolyn loved her children, grandchildren, great grandchild, and son-in-law and daughter-in-law and was very proud of all of them.  She liked to play cards and other games with her family and friends, always providing some sort of desserts to those playing, particularly her wonderful pies!

A graveside service was held Monday, August 22, 2022, at Mt. Summit Cemetery, New Castle, IN.  A memorial service will be held at Beavercreek Church of the Brethren, 2659 Dayton-Xenia Rd, Beavercreek OH on Saturday, September 10, 2022.  Visitation begins at 1:00 p.m. and the memorial service at 2:30 p.m.  A reception with light refreshments will follow the service.  Due to a local festival the same day, please take US 35 to Factory Rd to Dayton-Xenia Rd.  Parking is behind the church.  In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be made to the American Heart Association or Dayton Friends Meeting.

**Services will be available to view via Zoom and the link will be provided on the website prior to the service.