Joseph Claude Appleby
1925-1997
United States Navy WWII
Joseph Claude Appleby
His middle name was for his father, but no one
in the family can recall how Joseph was chosen
for his given name. It matters little, for from the
beginning to the end, he was
Joe.
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Joe, the fourth of six sons of Claude and Lona Appleby, was born on the eleventh of September, in the year Nineteen Hundred and Twenty-five. Although he was born in Springfield, Greene County, Missouri, his allegiance was to California since the family moved to that State in mid-Nineteen-Thirties. Due to his father's work, there were short-term moves to New York and Arizona, before the permanent settling in California. He had brothers, Bob, Bill, Jim and then, there was Joe, all born in Springfield, younger brother, Don, was born in Phoenix, Arizona and Gene, still later, born in California. |
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Soon after graduation from high school in 1943, he followed three of his brothers into service. Unlike the others, Joe joined the Navy and was sent to San Diego, California for training. His next port-of-call, after San Diego, was the New Hebrides Islands in the South Pacific and his entire service time was spent there. Returning to California, he received an Honorable Discharge in late 1945. Four daughters were born during Joe's first marriage, while a second marriage added two sons. He retired from a career in the Title and Trust business. Joseph Claude Appleby died 4 February 1997 and is buried beside his brother, Bill, at Sky Lawn Cemetery, Half Moon Bay near San Mateo, California, but Joe lives on in the hearts of those who love him. |
page added: 13 June 2001
page revised: 30 Nov 2002
text by Dorothy Appleby Turner