William Applegate

Born October 25, 1934 in New York City to Emma Lokerson, William Applegate spent his life welcoming friends into his family, training up employees to be their best, and nurturing his children and wife with love. Bill was raised by his grandparents Louella and Joseph near the Jersey Shore. Bill's connection to the Lokerson and Haberstick families formed him into a self-made, selfless man, husband, father, and grandfather. When he turned 18, he and his buddies joined the Air Force. As an airplane flight crew chief from 1952-1956, Bill traveled the world, bringing home with him stories and silly jokes that he shared at parties and card games. Once out of the Air Force, Bill returned to New Jersey, living with Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Ollie Lokerson. Bill worked construction wherever he could find work. He found his way to Florida as a grunt for a company that installed electric transmission lines across the state. From there, Bill met a carpenter who needed employees to install a new product called sheetrock, and he signed on to be a part of it. From Michigan to Florida, Bill honed his skills, preparing himself for the future. In early 1967 Bill met Carole Mann, tenacious and beautiful. The two fell in love quickly, married without hesitation, and rented an apartment in Miami. Later that year their son Billy was born, and they moved to Opa-Locka where Beth was born in 1969, and more lifelong friends joined their family. Bill became a second father to Jayson and Eder Pena, Charlie Malzahn, and Danny Rodriguez. Twelve years later the family moved to Florida Gardens in Western Lake Worth where Bill has lived since then. Those same Opa-Locka kids spent every weekend at the new house on Akron Road, and Bill continued his role as Mr. A. while those boys grew to men. The Florida Gardens community quickly became a part of the Applegate family too; through the 80s and 90s the Rizzas came for meals and card games each weekend, and until his last weeks Bill ate a Mexican dinner out with his neighbors every Tuesday and caught as many meals at Mom's Kitchen as possible. And, if Bill wasn't in his yard decorating for the annual Christmas contest or tending to his plants, he was snoozing in the recliner a child or family dog by his side. In 1979 Bill and Carole opened Applegate Drywall (later to become Applegate Interiors, Inc.) from their kitchen table. Bill ran the jobs while Carole did the books. As a teenager Billy knew he wanted to join his dad in the field, and Beth later followed in her mother's footsteps. Most importantly they learned the importance of Bill's mantra "Quality Craftsmanship," which related to all parts of life not just the shop. When Christopher Rizza was born, Bill and Carole were honored with the title "Godparents." Their adoration for Christopher prepared them for the next set of kids to scamper down Akron Road: first Justyn and Jessica, Beth's children, and then Emma, Will, and Charles, Bill and Sarah's children. Pop Pop shared his love of gardening, cool dips in the pool, backyard fishing, and cruises with his grandchildren. They sat on his knee for books, watched football with him, and wrestled on the floor till they squealed. After making Justyn a hearty Saturday morning breakfast each week, Bill taught him how to fix just about anything, and he adored Jessica's frequent visits and plans for the pools she hoped to one day design. He listened to Emma play the piano or tell him about her Alaska adventures, and taught Will to catch bass in the backyard. And, Charles definitely learned his championship ping pong skills from Pop Pop. Until this spring Bill welcomed neighbors and friends into the Applegate Hotel, grilling on weekends and preparing the house for annual Lokerson visits. His death brings us great sadness, but we hope that his legacy of hospitality, gentleness, and joy of life is a part of every one of us who knew him. Bill is preceded in death by his beloved wife Carole and his granddaughter Jessica. He is survived by his son Bill Applegate (Sarah) and daughter Beth Matejka as well as by his grandchildren Justyn Matejka, Emma Applegate, Will Applegate, Charles Applegate and his faithful pup Benji. Please join the family for a celebration of life BBQ from 1 PM to 6PM on July 29, 2023 at the Florida Gardens Clubhouse, 134 Ohio Road, Lake Worth, FL 33467. Attire will be casual. Please RSVP to wapple@applegateinteriors.com