Lt. Col. Raymond E. Applegate

[Paul Creed III]

Raymond E. Applegate, D.V.M., 84 of Mansfield, Ohio passed away on Friday, October 14, 2022 in Mansfield.

Born November 25, 1937, in Mansfield, Ohio, he was the son of the late Clare E. Applegate and Phyllis (Spayde) Moore. Dr. Applegate graduated from Butler High School in 1955. He attended The Ohio State University where he attained a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture in 1961. He was accepted into the College of Veterinary Medicine in 1960 and received the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1964. Upon graduation, Dr. Applegate started his military career and was commissioned into the U.S. Army as a First Lieutenant. In 1965, Dr. Applegate deployed to the Republic of Vietnam for one year as a veterinary officer where he was responsible for the care of military working dogs and establishing a safe food supply for the troops serving in Vietnam. Dr. Applegate earned the Air Medal for participation in twenty-five aerial missions over hostile territory. He received multiple awards including the Vietnam Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal. After two-years of active duty, Dr. Applegate associated with Dr. Ben S. Henson in Mansfield and built a full-service veterinary hospital on Middle Bellville Road. In 1980, he established his practice in Lexington where he focused on rural veterinary medicine for small animals and farm visits for large animals. In 1987, Dr. Applegate transitioned his practice from large to small animals with an outpatient clinic on Lexington Avenue in Mansfield and retired from that practice in 2002.

In addition to his veterinary private practice, Dr. Applegate served our Nation with a distinguished thirty-three-year Army career achieving the rank of Colonel. Colonel Applegate had numerous assignments with the Army Reserve Component and the Ohio Army National Guard. He demonstrated expertise in food sanitation inspection at numerous military facilities including Camp Perry (Port Clinton, OH), and Selfridge Air National Guard Base (Mt. Clemens, MI). He also provided veterinary services to the military communities of Selfridge and Wurtsmith Air Force Base communities during a critical personnel shortage. Colonel Applegate participated in the ROTC Nursing Summer Training Program at Camp Perry as a Committee Chief which was essential in planning field exercises about medical triage and nuclear/biological/chemical injuries. His last assignment was with the 112th Medical Brigade in Columbus where he was a veterinary staff officer who reported directly to the commander.

He married Virginia (Eaton) Applegate in Mansfield, OH on May 3, 1969. She survives him along with his two sons, Andrew E. (Kristine) Applegate of Brookline, NH and Dr. Gregory K. Applegate of Pepper Pike, OH; grandchildren, Matthew Applegate and Benjamin Applegate of Brookline, NH; brother, Richard (Marcia) Moore of Fountain Hills, AZ; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Clare Applegate and Phyllis Moore; brother, Jerald Applegate of Mansfield.

He was a member of The Ohio State University Alumni Association, American Veterinary Medical Association, Ohio Veterinary Medical Association, past member of 4-H, Future Farmers of America, Mansfield Aviation Club, Mansfield Men's Garden Club, and Omega Tau Sigma veterinary professional fraternity.

An aviation enthusiast, Ray earned his private and commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating. As a long-standing member of the Civil Air Patrol for 32 years, he served as the commander of the Mansfield Composite Squadron, logged several flight hours as a mission observer and earned numerous awards.

During retirement, Ray enjoyed numerous summer days planting flowers, watching Ohio State football, and visiting his grandsons in New Hampshire.

The family will receive friends 3:00 to 7:00 PM Thursday, October 20, 2022 at Snyder Funeral Homes, Lexington Avenue Chapel (2553 Lexington Ave, Mansfield, Ohio 44904) where funeral services will be held 12 noon on Friday, October 21, 2022. Burial will follow at Mansfield Cemetery with active duty military honors.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made either to the Ohio State University Veterinary Scholarship Class of 1964 (go.osu.edu/1964scholarship), or the Tunnel to Towers Foundation (t2t.org).

https://www.snyderfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/Raymond-E-Applegate-DVM?obId=26156689