Obituaries

June 24, 1923 to November 22, 2018

BLOOMINGTON - Elizabeth A. "Betty" Dilts Applegate, 95, died peacefully in Kingwood, TX, surrounded by her children and grandchildren on Thursday, Nov. 22.

She was born June 24, 1923, the daughter of the late Russell A. and Lenora M. Obright Dilts of Winamac. In 1944 she married her grade-school sweetheart Karl Edwin Applegate of Winamac, a union that celebrated its 67th year in 2011.

She is survived by her sister, Mary Canada, CO; son Raymond Applegate (Rachel) of TX; son Bob Applegate (Vicki) of WI; and daughter Beth Applegate (Trish Kerle’) of Bloomington. She is also survived by six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband K. Edwin Applegate; son Eric Applegate; and brothers John, Dick, Alan, Moses, Tom, Robert and Dan Dilts.

After raising her family, Mrs. Applegate returned to Indiana University to study interior design, and established a successful design business, Gateway Interiors. In addition, she, Sally Cook and other community-minded women turned what was once a small grocery store on the west side of Bloomington into a nonprofit, dedicated to providing used merchandise of reasonable quality at rock-bottom prices. Opportunity House is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2018.

She served for decades in other Bloomington-area service organizations. For 17 years she served Alpha Chi Omega Sorority in a variety of positions, including as a chapter advisor and president of the board. She was a long-standing member and former president of one of the Bloomington Tri-Kappa Chapters and was a 50-year member of the Bloomington Chapter of Eastern Star and PEO and served as PEO President. She was an active member of the Monroe County Library Board of Directors, founded and served as director of the Bloomington Foster Home, and served as the director of the Methodist Youth for the First Methodist Church. In addition, she held several other local, state and national leadership roles including as president of the Monroe County School Foundation Board and president of the Indiana Lawyers Auxiliary, ending her tenure as the national president of the American Lawyers Auxiliary. She was recognized in 2013 by the City of Bloomington when she received the Be More Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Mrs. Applegate's body will be cremated and her remains will be placed in the First Methodist Church, Columbarium where her husband and eldest son Eric also rest in peace.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in memory of Betty Applegate to the Opportunity House https://ophousethrift.og/. A memorial in Bloomington will be announced at a future date.

Condolences may be directed to Beth Applegate, 911 West 3rd Street, Bloomington, IN 47404; Bob Applegate N9360 Anacker Rd, Portage, WI 53901; and Raymond Applegate, 3507 Lost Lake Drive, Kingwood 77339.

You are invited to share a memory or leave an online condolence to the family at www.allencares.com.