F. George Appleton, 85, passed away Tuesday, June 15, 2010, after battling cancer for three months. Memorial service: 1:30 p.m. Friday in Greenwood Chapel. Interment: Mount Olivet Cemetery. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Greenwood Funeral Home. George was born July 21, 1924, in Lawrenceburg, Tenn., where he grew up and became a Christian at an early age. He joined the Church of Christ of Lawrenceburg. George was a Navy veteran of World War II, serving from August 1943 to January 1946. He served as pharmacist's mate second class aboard SS LST-523 and took part in the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, at Omaha Beach. LSTs (landing ship tanks) delivered troops and equipment to the beaches and then returned to England with the wounded. On June 19, the fourth trip into Omaha Beach, he was injured when his ship was blown in two, earning him a Purple Heart. He returned stateside and served his remaining enlistment at the Chicago Navy hospital. After the war ended, he attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and earned a bachelor of science in bacteriology. He worked as a bacteriologist for East Tennessee Baptist Hospital in Knoxville, as well as a consultant for Blount Memorial Hospital in Maryville, Tenn. During this time, he met and married Nadean Cary in 1953. Dr. F. George Appleton graduated from the University of Tennessee Dental School in Memphis, Tenn., in 1957. His first practice was in Loudon, Tenn., from 1957 to 1969. He was a member of Rotary International and Lions Club, and served as city councilman, receiving the Distinguished Citizen's Award. During this time, his three children were born. Upon moving to the Fort Worth area in 1969, he attended North Richland Hills Baptist Church with his family. He opened his practice in Richland Hills and was a life member of the Fort Worth District Dental Society, Texas Dental Association and American Dental Association. Dr. Appleton was a Fellow of the American College of Dentists and a Fellow of the International College of Dentists. Dr. Appleton's legacy of service is a long one. He served as vice president, president-elect, president and past president of the FWDDS. He was a founding member of the Past Presidents Club for FWDDS, DEN-PAC chairman and IRC for the Texas Dental Association. He served on numerous committees for both organizations. He was a fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Science. He served as one of the heroic dentists who worked on both the Branch Davidian siege in Waco and Delta Flight 1141 crash ID teams. Survivors: Wife of 56 years, Nadean Cary Appleton; son, Gregory Scott Appleton and wife, Kathy; son, Bryan Cary Appleton and wife, Leisa; daughter, Betsey Carol Appleton; and grandchildren, Kallie, Scott, Erin and Zachary.
Published in Star-Telegram on June 17, 2010