Obituary: Applegate, Thomas Mather

APPLEGATE,
Thomas M.

Thomas Mather Applegate passed away on March 25 2012.

He was born on July 26, 1923, in Spokane, Wash.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years Joan; brother Bill; sister-in-law Carol of Spokane, Wash., son Steven Applegate of Lancaster, Calif., daughter
Judith Parris of Spokane, Wash. and Michele Olivares of El Cajon, Calif. Tom has five grand- children, Michael Applegate, Brooke and Lindsey Olivares, and Blake and Shana Parris.

Tom has three great-grandchildren, Tucker, Grace, and Annabelle Applegate, plus many nieces and nephews.

He graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in 1941 and Kinman Business College after WWII, both in Spokane.

Tom had a great love of flying and had a pilots license before he had a drivers license.

He was a fighter pilot and flight instructor during the war.

He was also the Flight Commander of the Air National Guard in Spokane.

He flew such aircraft as the P-47 Thunderbolt, the P-51 Mustang, the F-86 Sabrejet, the F-89 Scorpion and the F-94 Starfire.

He moved to Southern California in 1964 working for the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) at Edwards AFB until retirement.

Tom was also an avid fisherman and golfer and enjoyed his time on the lakes and links.

He was also a 30 year member of the Antelope Valley Country Club.

Services are pending.

We will all miss him deeply.