Obituary: WILLARD BURCH APPLE, JR

By ADMIN-RAS | Published September 7, 2023 | No Comments

Willard Burch “Dud” Apple, Jr. of Reidsville, NC, inherited eternal life on Monday, September 4, 2023, at the age of 92, peacefully at his home.

A Celebration of Life will be conducted at 2:00 PM Saturday, September 9, 2023, at the First Baptist Church with a reception to follow in the church fellowship hall.

A native and lifelong resident of Reidsville, Dud was the son of the late W. B. “Dick” and Lorraine Grogan Apple. He was active in his church, in business and in the community. He attended Reidsville public schools and graduated from Reidsville High School in 1948. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating from the UNC School of Banking. He also graduated from the School of Bank Public Relations and Marketing at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. He retired from FNB Southeast in 1993 after forty-three years, with much support from his many friends at FNB. Dud served as President and Chairman of the Board of Directors at FNB Southeast as well as serving eight years on the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Charlotte Branch.

Dud served in the Regimental Headquarters Co. of the 120th Infantry of the Army National Guard and served a tour of active duty at Fort Jackson, SC where he attended and graduated from the Army Combat Communications Schools. He was later commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and served as Regimental Communication Officer and platoon leader. He received an honorable discharge from the Guard and was transferred to the US Army Reserve.

Dud was a member of the Reidsville City Council 1964- 68 and was Mayor 1966-68. He served as Chairman of Annie Penn Hospital Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Rockingham County Industrial Financing Authority, Chairman of Rockingham County Committee of 100, Chairman of Reidsville Firemen’s Relief Fund, chairman of the Board of Trustees of Rockingham Community College, and the college Foundation. He served as Chairman of the Reidsville Recreation Commission and President of the Reidsville Merchants Association and was President and life member of the Reidsville Jaycees. He truly believed that service to humanity is the best work of life.

Dud was a faithful member of First Baptist church where he served as a deacon and trustee and was a member of the Baracca Sunday school class.

In his spare time, he enjoyed “piddling” in his yard, fishing and spending time with a host of family and friends, including many from First National Bank.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by Dorothy Wilson Apple, his wife of 23 years and the mother of his four children, his son Dr. David C. Apple of Mt. Pleasant, SC and his brother James Walter “Pete” Apple.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia Lufty Apple; son, Dr. W. B. “Dee” Apple, III and wife Nancy of Pennington, NJ and children, Kristin Apple and husband Adam Haggar of Newtown, PA, Olivia Apple and Will Apple; daughter, Anne Apple Lee and husband Donnie of Reidsville and children Heather Lee of Danville, VA and Keatts Lee and wife Katie of Reidsville; daughter, Susan Apple Neuhoff and husband Jimmy of Greenville and children, Blair and David East and Annalee and Daniel Miller of Greenville, NC ; son David Apple’s children, Joe Apple and wife Jessica, Ben Apple and wife Eliza of Mt. Pleasant, SC and Katie Apple of Colorado Springs, CO, nephew, James Apple and wife Denise of Myrtle Beach, SC; brother-in-law, Harry N. Wilson and wife Kitty of Reidsville; niece, Kim Wilson. He is also survived by two stepchildren, William Luyties and wife Karen of Spring, TX and their children, William Luyties and wife Andrea, Major Bobby Luyties and wife Risha, Kerri Luyties Smith and husband David; JoyBeth Lufty of Houston, TX. Dud was survived by great grandchildren, Parks and Salem Lee, Caleb, Charlie, and Carter Apple and Emma and Jackson Apple and Simona Haggar and Gentry East and James Miller.

Special gratitude is extended by Dud and his family to the exceptional caregivers that brought joy to Dud’s life daily: Mercedes Hernandez, Michelle Apple, Linda Harrison, Corinne Dodson, and past caregivers, Jaime Norman, Susan Phelps and Jennie Blackwell.

Citty Funeral Home is assisting the Apple family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Hospice of Rockingham Co. PO Box 281 Reidsville, NC 27375, Salvation Army of Rockingham Co. Food Pantry PO Box 686 Reidsville, NC 27323-686 or First Baptist Church 409 S. Main St. Reidsville, NC 27320.

Citty Funeral Home

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