William Howard Apple

William Howard Apple was born October 20, 1929 to Rosie Gentry Apple and Hugh Apple in a farmhouse at a wide place in the road, called Belzoni, east of Antlers Oklahoma. He worked on the farm and in the sawmill through his youth, until joining the Navy near the end of World War II. Exceptional at singing and playing the guitar, banjo, and harmonica, he listed musician as his career choice on his honorable discharge papers. He traveled to Colorado and back to Heavener, Oklahoma where he met and married his bride Johnie Jean Springer, on November 15, 1949. After the birth of their first son, Ronnie, they followed the logging industry to Oregon and Northern California, where they welcomed Steve to the family. Coming back to Oklahoma, they lived with Uncle Rufus and Aunt Eula Mae until he was able to hire on at Tinker Air Force Base.

Over the next decade plus, the family grew with the addition of 4 more sons and their daughter. He progressed in his career as the family grew. He excelled in electronics, working on a variety of aircraft in Oklahoma, Missouri, Louisiana, Vietnam, Thailand, and Japan. He became a supervisor and was able to troubleshoot some of the earliest computer systems the Air Force had.

He retired from civil service in August of 1985 and continued to remain active, singing and playing the guitar, working on electronics, recording Christian and Country audio and video, and guiding his family. He and his bride of nearly 65 years continued to live in Moore, worshiping and serving as elder with the First Nazarene Church of Moore. He loved being with family... and God’s people.

Howard was preceded in death by his father, mother, brother Allen, sister Darlene, daughter-in-law, Janice Apple, granddaughters, Brandy Bell, and Kelsie Apple, and granddaughter-in-law Lisa Apple. He is survived by his wife of the home, son Ron Apple and wife Linda of Moore, son Steve Apple and wife Linda of Moore, son Johnny Ray Apple and wife Brenda of Moore, son Darrel Apple and wife Barbara of Midwest City, Daughter Rita Cook and husband Calvin of Edmond, son Phil Apple and wife Vickie of Moore, son Gary Apple of Moore, 16 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren.