Betty Appel

WHITINGHAM - Betty Jane Appel died at her home on Friday, April 29. She was 100 years old. She was a beautiful human being who sang her way through life.
Born on August 9, 1921 to Myrna and Mercer Templeton on Staten Island, NY, Betty grew up the daughter of a vaudeville family.During WWII, she joined the USO and took a train from New York to San Francisco. There she was strapped to a bench seat with a parachute on her back for a flight to the South Pacific. In Guam she entertained the troops and became an aide in the surgical tents when needed. Betty returned from Hawaii to New York City by ship in February 1946.
After the war Betty sang in various Gilbert and Sullivan productions and performed a bit on television before singing in the original production of “Brigadoon” at the Ziegfeld Theater on Broadway in March 1947. On August 10 of that year she married Harry Charles Appel in Manhattan, where their first two children were born. They eventually made their home in Glen Rock, NJ, where their last two children were born. Betty and Harry retired to Vermont where they had always enjoyed times with family and friends.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband Harry in 2008 and her well-loved son-in-law Michael Gormley. She is survived by her daughters Elodee Gates (Larry Gates), Merylee Appel (Chuck Freeman), and Lorelle Gormley; her son Randall Appel (Trish Appel); eight grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
Betty was grateful to her community for so many things. Senior meals and the Whitingham first responders were especially important to her quality of life. These are two suggestions for any wishing to make a contribution in her memory: Dumaine House, PO Box 217, Jacksonville, VT 05342 - these funds will directly impact Deerfield Valley senior meals - and the Whitingham Fire Association, PO Box 368, Jacksonville, VT 05342 - these funds will directly impact Whitingham’s first responders.