Gerald L. Appelgate, 84, went home to be with his Lord at 11:56 PM December 16, 2017 at Lynchburg General Hospital. Born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, October 15, 1933, he was a graduate of Oklahoma State University and was a Korean War veteran serving from 1953 - 1955.

After discharge from the service, Jerry returned to school and completed his veterinarian training, opening his veterinary practice in 1959. During the next eight years as a practicing veterinarian he served his community specializing in both large and small animals. In 1967, he entered into the veterinarian pharmaceutical industry serving with multiple companies ending his career with Pfizer Pharmaceutical in 1993.

In 1994, he purchased a farm in Eufaula, Oklahoma beginning a cattle operation at which he was very successful closing out this phase of his life in 2010. Jerry and his wife, Elizabeth (Betsy), moved to Spout Springs, Virginia in 2015 to be near members of his wife's family.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Eula Appelgate and his previous wife, Ruth Anne McCuistion. Surviving him in addition to his wife Elizabeth (Betsy Jones), of 34 years are four daughters, Sheri Little of Oregon, Leslie Evans of Montana, Victoria Varma and Robin (Dan) Wilson of California, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Jerry was a member of Liberty Baptist Church, active as a Bible Study leader, and a member of the Personnel Committee.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to one's favorite charity.