Ernest C. Applegate

Ernest Clifford Applegate, a long-time Austin, Texas resident and businessman, passed away on July 1, 2021. Mr. Applegate was born in St. Mary's Hospital in Huntington, Cabell County, West Virginia on January 2, 1935, the oldest son of the late Thomas Clark Applegate and Star Gladstone "Gladys" Edmonds. He graduated from Wellston High School, Wellston, Ohio in 1952 and completed his apprenticeship as a toolmaker at International Tool Company in Dayton, Ohio in 1955. He was united in marriage to Shirley Adeline Darling in 1956. After serving as a diemaker for Ford Motor Company and proprietor of Applegate Tooling Services, Mr. Applegate relocated to Austin with his wife and three children in 1967 to establish Applegate Tool Company, Inc. where he served as president and CEO until his retirement in 1996. He was past president of the Metal Manufacturing Corporation and a founding member of the Austin chapter of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. Mr. Applegate has been a member of Lexington Lodge No. 1 Freemasons, Lexington, Kentucky since 1964. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of more than 51 years, Shirley Darling Applegate, siste...[more]

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line Jarvis, and stepfather, Charles Raymond "Ray" Dillow. He is survived by his son, Thomas Clark Applegate, of Bastrop; his daughter Linda Kay Applegate Arocha and husband David of Austin; and his daughter Melissa Ellen Applegate, also of Austin; by six grandchildren, Sarah Michelle Arocha Ostriyznick, Jennifer Lynn Callahan, Amy Lynn Brice, Ernest Thomas Arocha, Kristen Michelle Applegate, and Anna Julia Arocha; and by eight great grandchildren, Adaline Kyleigh Arocha, Cadence Jade Brice, Theodore Graham Callahan, Helen Lynn Callahan, Jackson Knight Brice, Hadley Estelle Ostriyznick, Starla Rose Brice, and Matilda Rose Ostriyznick. He is further survived by his brother, John Applegate of Shelbyville, Kentucky, as well as several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, July 7, at Harrell Funeral Home, Austin, Texas. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, July 8, at Harrell Funeral Home, Austin, Texas. Dr. Ken Baldwin will officiate. Masonic graveside services will immediately follow in Austin Memorial Park Cemetery. Pallbearers are Thomas Applegate, David Arocha, Ernest Arocha, Stanley Box, Ryan Callahan, and Craig Ostriyznick.