Charles Thomas "Tom" Applegate 81 of Warren, Indiana, passed away at his home in Warren on Saturday, May 17, 2025.

Tom was born on July 15, 1943, in Muncie, Indiana, to Charles L. and Martha P. (Sciscoe) Applegate. He graduated from Muncie Central High School in 1961 and served his country in both the United States Air Force and as an active-duty guardsman in the Army National Guard. Tom married Martha "Louise" (Keele) Applegate on June 11, 1961, in Muncie, Indiana. In the Air Force, Tom worked as an aircraft mechanic from 1961-1965 then reenlisted from 1965-1969. He served in the Indiana National Guard from 1981-1995 and earned the rank of First Sergeant as well as Battalion Operations Sergeant. He served as the Huntington County Veterans Service officer from 1995 to 2005 and was the recipient of the Samuel Jones Award for 2005. Tom worked as the Director for the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs and retired in 2013. Tom also was a former member of the American Legion Post #160 of Roanoke, IN, Post #7 of Huntington, and Post #368 of Van Buren as well as a former member of the VFW Post 2689 of Huntington, IN, AMVETS Post 99 of Indianapolis, IN, DAV of Indiana, and founder of the Purple Heart Chapter 692 of Marion, IN and also the Huntington Indiana chapter. Tom loved to be creative and would do diamond paintings, paint by number, coloring, and building model planes and cars.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his grandson, Charles Edward in 1989, brother, Stephen Applegate in 2021, and brothers-in-law, Buster, Leroy, and Gary Keele.

Tom will be deeply missed by his wife of 63 years, Louise Applegate of Warren, IN, children, Charles T. (Patty) Applegate Jr. of Huntington, IN, and Brenda L. Applegate of Bluffton, IN, grandchildren, Cylest, Amber, Megan and Paige, great grandchildren, Addison, Zoey, Emma, Ella-Rae, Nadine and EJ, sister-in-law, Janie Applegate, nephews, Stephen R. Applegate and Jaque A. Applegate, in-laws, Sandy and Kenley Grubbs, Carol and Dwight Ferrell, Mary and David Holton, 9 nieces and 5 nephews all of Tennessee.

Friends and family may gather to share and remember on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at Glancy-H. Brown & Son Funeral Home located at 203 N Matilda St. Warren, IN 46792 from 4pm to 8pm and again on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, from 10am to 11am. A funeral service will begin at 11am with David Meyers officiating. Burial will follow at Marion National Cemetery in Marion, Indiana.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to: Boys Town USA or St. Jude's

Arrangements have been entrusted to Glancy-H. Brown & Son Funeral Home in Warren, Indiana.