Dale Apple of Dardanelle lived 92 wonderful years and died Friday, June 22, 2012, at his home in Dardanelle surrounded by his family that loved him dearly.
Dale was born June 20, 1920, in River Side to the late Eddie (Ed) Apple and Dollie Coffer Apple and was the last surviving member of his family. His Mother Dollie and sister Reba died of TB when he was very young and his older sister Irene took over the role of Mother to him and his brother. Growing up they lived in an area outside of Dardanelle called Riverside which is about 5-6 miles and is basically unpopulated now, just farm land.
Dale was a lifelong farmer for the Merritt family starting as a young child working through three generations of Merritt's, spanning through more than 70 years. Even though he was an uneducated man, his intelligence made him one of the smartest people around. There was nothing that he wanted to do that he was not able to accomplish. He was a farmer, gardener, mechanic and woodcraftsman just to name a few. But one of the most important roles he had was a wonderful caring caretaker of my Mother when she was ill and a daddy to his children.
Dale was preceded in death by his spouse of 60 years, Wanda Madison Apple, and one granddaughter, Christy Lynn Roland.
Survivors include three sons, Ricky Apple of Dardanelle, William Apple and wife Marianne of Russellville and Randy Apple and wife Jean of Dover; two daughters, Mary Standridge and husband Terry and Brenda Troyke, all of Dardanelle.
Grandchildren include: Alisha Crowe, Amanda Standridge, Ashley Francis, Michelle Harper, Tonya, Shawna, Derek, George and Cari Apple, Lauren and Lee Burris, Melissa Noakes, Kristen Roper and Steven Troyke
Great-grandchildren include: ShiDale and RyLee Crowe, Aleigh and Landon Francis, Matthew McConkey, Jessica, Savannah and Maddison Lee, Whitley and Bryanna Troyke, Douglas, DeAnna and Eddie Harper and Cierra, Patrick and Kaidence Apple.; and one great-great-grandchild, Paige McConkey.
Per his wishes he was buried the next day. With the help of Community Funeral Service in Clarksville we were able to have him a custom ordered john deer green casket with the yellow emblem on top of the casket. Graveside services were held at 1 p.m. June 23rd at Brearley Cemetery.
A favorite story he told me was about him as a child and his daddy fishing and catching a really big catfish. They had no car but needed to get the catfish to town to sell it at the local grocery store. His daddy took a long limb and cleaned off all the smaller branches and them stuck the catfish on it through his gills and out of his mouth. He then put one end on his shoulder and the other end on my daddy's shoulder and off to town they went. Daddy was barefoot because during the summer they did not buy shoes they went bare foot and he said that sandy dirt road was really hot. He said it took them over an hour to make it to town but they were able to get a load of flour, cornmeal, beans, salt, etc. for the fish and they both had a cold soda. They then got lucky and his Uncle pulled up to the store as they were getting ready to leave and told them to stick around and he would give them a ride home. He said that made them both very happy as they were exhausted and had a lot of weight to carry back that same distance.
Dale loved to cook, to have a clean house and a clean yard. He considered breakfast the most important meal of the day, always helped with the housework and groomed the yard. When fall came around he always had the leaf rake attached to his riding mower and would make almost daily trips around the yard picking up leaves. In the fall he also enjoyed picking up pecans, cracking and shelling them.
A very special "Thanks" to the Area on Aging Hospice Program for their wonderful care of Dale and the family.
Arrangements by Community Funeral Service in Clarksville.
Dale was born June 20, 1920, in River Side to the late Eddie (Ed) Apple and Dollie Coffer Apple and was the last surviving member of his family. His Mother Dollie and sister Reba died of TB when he was very young and his older sister Irene took over the role of Mother to him and his brother. Growing up they lived in an area outside of Dardanelle called Riverside which is about 5-6 miles and is basically unpopulated now, just farm land.
Dale was a lifelong farmer for the Merritt family starting as a young child working through three generations of Merritt's, spanning through more than 70 years. Even though he was an uneducated man, his intelligence made him one of the smartest people around. There was nothing that he wanted to do that he was not able to accomplish. He was a farmer, gardener, mechanic and woodcraftsman just to name a few. But one of the most important roles he had was a wonderful caring caretaker of my Mother when she was ill and a daddy to his children.
Dale was preceded in death by his spouse of 60 years, Wanda Madison Apple, and one granddaughter, Christy Lynn Roland.
Survivors include three sons, Ricky Apple of Dardanelle, William Apple and wife Marianne of Russellville and Randy Apple and wife Jean of Dover; two daughters, Mary Standridge and husband Terry and Brenda Troyke, all of Dardanelle.
Grandchildren include: Alisha Crowe, Amanda Standridge, Ashley Francis, Michelle Harper, Tonya, Shawna, Derek, George and Cari Apple, Lauren and Lee Burris, Melissa Noakes, Kristen Roper and Steven Troyke
Great-grandchildren include: ShiDale and RyLee Crowe, Aleigh and Landon Francis, Matthew McConkey, Jessica, Savannah and Maddison Lee, Whitley and Bryanna Troyke, Douglas, DeAnna and Eddie Harper and Cierra, Patrick and Kaidence Apple.; and one great-great-grandchild, Paige McConkey.
Per his wishes he was buried the next day. With the help of Community Funeral Service in Clarksville we were able to have him a custom ordered john deer green casket with the yellow emblem on top of the casket. Graveside services were held at 1 p.m. June 23rd at Brearley Cemetery.
A favorite story he told me was about him as a child and his daddy fishing and catching a really big catfish. They had no car but needed to get the catfish to town to sell it at the local grocery store. His daddy took a long limb and cleaned off all the smaller branches and them stuck the catfish on it through his gills and out of his mouth. He then put one end on his shoulder and the other end on my daddy's shoulder and off to town they went. Daddy was barefoot because during the summer they did not buy shoes they went bare foot and he said that sandy dirt road was really hot. He said it took them over an hour to make it to town but they were able to get a load of flour, cornmeal, beans, salt, etc. for the fish and they both had a cold soda. They then got lucky and his Uncle pulled up to the store as they were getting ready to leave and told them to stick around and he would give them a ride home. He said that made them both very happy as they were exhausted and had a lot of weight to carry back that same distance.
Dale loved to cook, to have a clean house and a clean yard. He considered breakfast the most important meal of the day, always helped with the housework and groomed the yard. When fall came around he always had the leaf rake attached to his riding mower and would make almost daily trips around the yard picking up leaves. In the fall he also enjoyed picking up pecans, cracking and shelling them.
A very special "Thanks" to the Area on Aging Hospice Program for their wonderful care of Dale and the family.
Arrangements by Community Funeral Service in Clarksville.
Dale Apple of Dardanelle lived 92 wonderful years and died Friday, June 22, 2012, at his home in Dardanelle surrounded by his family that loved him dearly.
Dale was born June 20, 1920, in River Side to the late Eddie (Ed) Apple and Dollie Coffer Apple and was the last surviving member of his family. His Mother Dollie and sister Reba died of TB when he was very young and his older sister Irene took over the role of Mother to him and his brother. Growing up they lived in an area outside of Dardanelle called Riverside which is about 5-6 miles and is basically unpopulated now, just farm land.
Dale was a lifelong farmer for the Merritt family starting as a young child working through three generations of Merritt's, spanning through more than 70 years. Even though he was an uneducated man, his intelligence made him one of the smartest people around. There was nothing that he wanted to do that he was not able to accomplish. He was a farmer, gardener, mechanic and woodcraftsman just to name a few. But one of the most important roles he had was a wonderful caring caretaker of my Mother when she was ill and a daddy to his children.
Dale was preceded in death by his spouse of 60 years, Wanda Madison Apple, and one granddaughter, Christy Lynn Roland.
Survivors include three sons, Ricky Apple of Dardanelle, William Apple and wife Marianne of Russellville and Randy Apple and wife Jean of Dover; two daughters, Mary Standridge and husband Terry and Brenda Troyke, all of Dardanelle.
Grandchildren include: Alisha Crowe, Amanda Standridge, Ashley Francis, Michelle Harper, Tonya, Shawna, Derek, George and Cari Apple, Lauren and Lee Burris, Melissa Noakes, Kristen Roper and Steven Troyke
Great-grandchildren include: ShiDale and RyLee Crowe, Aleigh and Landon Francis, Matthew McConkey, Jessica, Savannah and Maddison Lee, Whitley and Bryanna Troyke, Douglas, DeAnna and Eddie Harper and Cierra, Patrick and Kaidence Apple.; and one great-great-grandchild, Paige McConkey.
Per his wishes he was buried the next day. With the help of Community Funeral Service in Clarksville we were able to have him a custom ordered john deer green casket with the yellow emblem on top of the casket. Graveside services were held at 1 p.m. June 23rd at Brearley Cemetery.
A favorite story he told me was about him as a child and his daddy fishing and catching a really big catfish. They had no car but needed to get the catfish to town to sell it at the local grocery store. His daddy took a long limb and cleaned off all the smaller branches and them stuck the catfish on it through his gills and out of his mouth. He then put one end on his shoulder and the other end on my daddy's shoulder and off to town they went. Daddy was barefoot because during the summer they did not buy shoes they went bare foot and he said that sandy dirt road was really hot. He said it took them over an hour to make it to town but they were able to get a load of flour, cornmeal, beans, salt, etc. for the fish and they both had a cold soda. They then got lucky and his Uncle pulled up to the store as they were getting ready to leave and told them to stick around and he would give them a ride home. He said that made them both very happy as they were exhausted and had a lot of weight to carry back that same distance.
Dale loved to cook, to have a clean house and a clean yard. He considered breakfast the most important meal of the day, always helped with the housework and groomed the yard. When fall came around he always had the leaf rake attached to his riding mower and would make almost daily trips around the yard picking up leaves. In the fall he also enjoyed picking up pecans, cracking and shelling them.
A very special "Thanks" to the Area on Aging Hospice Program for their wonderful care of Dale and the family.
Arrangements by Community Funeral Service in Clarksville.
Dale was born June 20, 1920, in River Side to the late Eddie (Ed) Apple and Dollie Coffer Apple and was the last surviving member of his family. His Mother Dollie and sister Reba died of TB when he was very young and his older sister Irene took over the role of Mother to him and his brother. Growing up they lived in an area outside of Dardanelle called Riverside which is about 5-6 miles and is basically unpopulated now, just farm land.
Dale was a lifelong farmer for the Merritt family starting as a young child working through three generations of Merritt's, spanning through more than 70 years. Even though he was an uneducated man, his intelligence made him one of the smartest people around. There was nothing that he wanted to do that he was not able to accomplish. He was a farmer, gardener, mechanic and woodcraftsman just to name a few. But one of the most important roles he had was a wonderful caring caretaker of my Mother when she was ill and a daddy to his children.
Dale was preceded in death by his spouse of 60 years, Wanda Madison Apple, and one granddaughter, Christy Lynn Roland.
Survivors include three sons, Ricky Apple of Dardanelle, William Apple and wife Marianne of Russellville and Randy Apple and wife Jean of Dover; two daughters, Mary Standridge and husband Terry and Brenda Troyke, all of Dardanelle.
Grandchildren include: Alisha Crowe, Amanda Standridge, Ashley Francis, Michelle Harper, Tonya, Shawna, Derek, George and Cari Apple, Lauren and Lee Burris, Melissa Noakes, Kristen Roper and Steven Troyke
Great-grandchildren include: ShiDale and RyLee Crowe, Aleigh and Landon Francis, Matthew McConkey, Jessica, Savannah and Maddison Lee, Whitley and Bryanna Troyke, Douglas, DeAnna and Eddie Harper and Cierra, Patrick and Kaidence Apple.; and one great-great-grandchild, Paige McConkey.
Per his wishes he was buried the next day. With the help of Community Funeral Service in Clarksville we were able to have him a custom ordered john deer green casket with the yellow emblem on top of the casket. Graveside services were held at 1 p.m. June 23rd at Brearley Cemetery.
A favorite story he told me was about him as a child and his daddy fishing and catching a really big catfish. They had no car but needed to get the catfish to town to sell it at the local grocery store. His daddy took a long limb and cleaned off all the smaller branches and them stuck the catfish on it through his gills and out of his mouth. He then put one end on his shoulder and the other end on my daddy's shoulder and off to town they went. Daddy was barefoot because during the summer they did not buy shoes they went bare foot and he said that sandy dirt road was really hot. He said it took them over an hour to make it to town but they were able to get a load of flour, cornmeal, beans, salt, etc. for the fish and they both had a cold soda. They then got lucky and his Uncle pulled up to the store as they were getting ready to leave and told them to stick around and he would give them a ride home. He said that made them both very happy as they were exhausted and had a lot of weight to carry back that same distance.
Dale loved to cook, to have a clean house and a clean yard. He considered breakfast the most important meal of the day, always helped with the housework and groomed the yard. When fall came around he always had the leaf rake attached to his riding mower and would make almost daily trips around the yard picking up leaves. In the fall he also enjoyed picking up pecans, cracking and shelling them.
A very special "Thanks" to the Area on Aging Hospice Program for their wonderful care of Dale and the family.
Arrangements by Community Funeral Service in Clarksville.
