Phyllis Applewhite
Phyllis Train Applewhite died on Thursday, July 23 , 2015.
She was preceded in death by her former husband of 49 years, Joseph M. Burke, her parents, LeRoy C. and Rebecca B. Train, her sister, Mary Josephine Lewis and brother, Leroy C. Train, Jr.
Born Oct. 10, 1928, in house now occupied by the Red Bank City Hall Phyllis attended Red Bank Elementary, Normal Park Junior High School, Girls Preparatory School and Chattanooga High School. She attended Wesleyan College in Macon, Ga., before transferring to the College of Wooster. She graduated there in 1950 with a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry. There she met and married Joseph M. Burke. She and Joe had six children and 14 grandchildren whom she loved and nurtured. She married her high school sweetheart, Bob Applewhite in 2003 and welcomed a family that included four step-children, nine step-grandchildren and seven step-great grandchildren.
Phyllis had a great love for the violin which began at age nine and was a constant influence and joy in her life. She played with the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra, Chattanooga Community Orchestra , her string trio ”Opus III” and her quartet “Donne Quartet”. She contributed her musical skill with the Chattanooga Little Theatre for various musicals and numerous church services and programs.
She was a lifelong teacher whose career spanned over 30 years with the Chattanooga Hamilton County School system at Lakeside Elementary, Booker T. Washington Elementary, and Dupont schools. She taught second, fourth and sixth grades. She volunteered as a cuddler in the NICU unit at Erlanger Hospital and helped in the Community Kitchen.
She enjoyed tennis, playing doubles in the Senior Olympics, as well as golf and is a former member of Valleybrook Golf course.
She attended Second Presbyterian Church as a child and young adult. She is a former member of St. Luke’s Methodist and Rivermont Presbyterian and is now a member of Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church.
She is survived by her husband of 12 years, Robert A. Applewhite. Survivors also include sons Michael T. (Sherry) Burke of Seattle, David H. (Cathy) Burke of Midlothian, Tx., and William B. (Nikelle) of Sevierville; daughters, Phyllis Murray Martin of Murfreesboro, Patricia Train Adler of Kingsport, Tn., and Lee Ann (Andy) Hall of Dawson Springs, Ky.; 14 grandchildren and her sister, Rebecca Stimson of Chattanooga. She is survived as well by four step-children, Robert “Chip” Applewhite, Brien Applewhite, Michael Applewhite and Susan Bush, nine step-grandchildren and 14 step-great-grandchildren.
Visitation with the family will be on Monday, July, 27, from 5-7 p.m. at Chattanooga Funeral Home-North chapel and on Tuesday from 9-10 a.m.
Funeral services will be at Chattanooga Funeral Home -North Chapel on Tuesday, July, 28, at 10 a.m. with burial at the Chattanooga National Cemetery. Pallbearers will be grandsons, Paul Martin, Phillip Martin, Bryant Adler, Andrew Burke, Peter Burke and Benjamin Burke.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Hospice of Chattanooga or your favorite charity.
With gratitude and appreciation, the family thanks Hospice of Chattanooga for their kind, compassionate and loving care of Phyllis.
Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.