Frances "Fran" Griffin (Griffin) Applegarth
February 6, 1927 — August 4, 2016
Frances “Fran” Griffin Applegarth, 89, passed away on August 4, 2016 at home in Raleigh, NC. She was born on February 6, 1927 in Anderson, SC to Whitner Livingston Griffin and Essie Thompson Griffin.
Fran grew up in Anderson, SC. She graduated from Anderson Girl’s High School in Anderson, SC. After high school she attended Winthrop College in Rock Hill, SC where she received a degree in Art Education and English. She worked for the Dorchester County Public School System as a High School Art Teacher and Middle School English Teacher for 26 years.
Fran married Thomas S. Applegarth, Jr. in 1950 in Anderson, SC. They were happily married for 41 years. Fran was a member of Zion United Methodist Church for many years and most recently a member of Fuquay-Varina United Methodist Church, Maryland Retired School Personnel Association, and the North Carolina Museum of Art. She enjoyed travel, camping, art/nature and life itself.
Fran is survived by her daughters, Julie A. Pruitt (George) of Rougemont, NC and Aimee A. Zehren (Phillip) of Raleigh, NC.; her brother Whitner L. Griffin, Jr. (Betty) of Spartanburg, SC; 4 step grandchildren; 10 step great-grandchildren; 2 step great-great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Fran was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. & Mrs. Whitner L. Griffin and her husband, Thomas S. Applegarth, Jr.
A memorial service will be held at Zion United Methodist Church, 612 Locust Street, Cambridge, MD at 2:00 pm, August 27, 2016. A visitation will be held at the church from 12:30-2:00 pm, August 27, 2016. The family will be greeting friends and relatives at a reception immediately following the service in Garrison Hall. A private interment will be held at a later date.
A memorial service will be held at Fuquay-Varina United Methodist Church, 100 Judd Pkwy, Fuquay-Varina, NC at 2:00 pm, September 11, 2016. A visitation will be held immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to a charity of your choice in her memory.
Condolences may be left on Thomas Funeral Home’s online guest book at www.thomasfuneralhomepa.com or at the Cremation Society of the Carolinas’ online guest book at www.CremationSocietyNC.com.