Dr. Apple

Dr. Jay Lawrence Apple passed away on September 13, 2015 at Cobles HealthCare at Twin Lakes, Burlington, NC. Lawrence was a man deeply rooted in his Lutheran faith that sustained him throughout his life. He often shared in later years that he had been richly blessed with a wonderful life full of opportunities, achievements, challenges and relationships. Lawrence married his high school sweetheart, Ella Holt Apple, on October 3, 1945 and enjoyed a long, happy, productive life together that allowed them to be close to their families as well as create many life- long friendships all over the US and in many foreign countries. The Twin Lakes staff have often shared that they had never witnessed such an enduring love story as that of Lawrence and Ella. Lawrence was drafted into the Army on July 28, 1944 and after basic training was assigned to the 99th Infantry Division which at the time was engaged in the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium January 1945. As a member of Company A, 393rd Infantry Regiment of the 99th Infantry Division, Lawrence saw his first action and won his first battle star in the Battle of the Bulge Ardennes Campaign, a second in the Central Europe Rhur Pocket Campaign and a third in the Rhineland Campaign in Southern Germany under the command of General George Patton Third Army. He was awarded a Bronze Star. Soon after the war ended in Europe, he received orders to the USA to join the 95th Infantry Division that was being readied to participate in the invasion of the mainland of Japan. The dropping of the two Atomic Bombs while Lawrence was in transit to the USA made that invasion unnecessary. He received an honorable discharge on June 1946. As a recipient of the GI Bill, Lawrence earned three degrees from NC State, including a Ph.D. in plant pathology and genetics in 1955. He served on the faculty from 1955 to 1991 and is widely known for his work in international agricultural development. He served as assistant director of research and academic affairs in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, director of the Institute of Biological Sciences and director of international programs at the university. Lawrence founded the International Association for the Plant Protection IAPPS as an umbrella scientific organization to bring plant protection sciences together under one international organization. Dr. Apple was also known for his tireless advocacy for the NCSU Libraries. He helped raise funds for the libraries in his roles as president of the Association of Retired Faculty, president of the Friends of the Library and a member of the Forever Club executive committee. In 1994, Lawrence and Ella established the J. Lawrence and Ella Apple Library Endowment. They have been generous supporters of the plant pathology department and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. On March 9, 2009, Dr. Apple was honored as a professor emeritus with the prestigious Watauga Medal by North Carolina State University, the highest nonacademic honor bestowed by NC State. He also received the Research Award by the Society of Sigma XI and the Award of Merit by Sigma Iota Rho 1998. In retirement, Lawrence also enjoyed farming on his ancestral home in Gibsonville with extensive garden crops and a peach orchard. Family and friends were the grateful recipients of those bountiful crops. Lawrence, the youngest son of Gus Rufus and Annie Shepherd Apple, was born on January 8, 1926. He is predeceased in death by his parents, his two sisters Lula Apple Summers and Blanch Apple Kirkman, two brothers George Ervin Apple and Clyde Edwin Apple and two half- brothers Arlie Dewitt Apple and Floyd Murdock Apple. Dr. Apple is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Ella Holt Apple; sister-in-laws, Lorraine Apple, Thelma Holt Lowe and Anne Holt; as well as four nieces and six nephews. The funeral service will be held on Thursday, September 17th at 2pm in the Foley Chapel at Twin Lakes with Rev. William Zima officiating. The family will receive friends in the Peppertree Caf following the service. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be sent to Frieden's Lutheran Church, 6001 NC 61North Hwy, Gibsonville, NC 27249, NC Alzheimer's Association, 1305 Navaho Drive, Suite 101, Raleigh, NC 27609, Allied Churches of Alamance County, 206 North Fisher Street, Burlington, NC 27217 or the NCSU James B. Hunt Library, 1070 Partners Way, Campus Box 7132, Raleigh, NC 276098. The family would like to offer their heartfelt appreciation to Dr. James Osborne, Dr. Richard Letvak and the Twin Lakes nurses /staff of Cobles Healthcare and Deacon Point Assisted Living who have shown such loving care and compassion for Lawrence and Ella over the past few challenging years.