Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
NameWilliam Lee APPLE 
269,472, BIRTH:-APPLE , JOSHUA AARON,472, BIRTH:-APPLE , JAMES MATTHEW-,472, MARRIAGE: GERRINGER ,CYNTHIA MARIE & APPLE, WILLIAM LEE,404, North Carolina, County Marriages (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP9F-3NRX : 28 November 2018), William Lee Apple and Cynthia Marie Gerringer, 31 Dec 1967; citing Jefferson Township, Guilford, North Carolina,404, "North Carolina, County Marriages (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP9P-QL84 : 28 November 2018), William Lee Apple and Cynthia Marie Gerringer, 19 Aug 1967; citing Durham, North Carolina
269,472, BIRTH:-APPLE , JOSHUA AARON,472, BIRTH:-APPLE , JAMES MATTHEW-,472, MARRIAGE: GERRINGER ,CYNTHIA MARIE & APPLE, WILLIAM LEE,404, North Carolina, County Marriages (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP9F-3NRX : 28 November 2018), William Lee Apple and Cynthia Marie Gerringer, 31 Dec 1967; citing Jefferson Township, Guilford, North Carolina,404, "North Carolina, County Marriages (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP9P-QL84 : 28 November 2018), William Lee Apple and Cynthia Marie Gerringer, 19 Aug 1967; citing Durham, North CarolinaBirthFeb 15, 1949404, North Carolina, County Marriages (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP9F-3NRX : 28 November 2018), William Lee Apple and Cynthia Marie Gerringer, 31 Dec 1967; citing Jefferson Township, Guilford, North Carolina,680, William Lee Apple
DeathFeb 28, 2025, Greensboro, Guilford County, North Carolina680, William Lee Apple
BurialCremated680, William Lee Apple
Flags SS-Reunion Info, US Army, Vietnam War
FatherElisher Lee APPLE
Spouses
1Cynthia Marie GERRINGER 269,470, Cynthia Gerringer Apple,472, BIRTH:-APPLE , JOSHUA AARON,472, BIRTH:-APPLE , JAMES MATTHEW-,472, MARRIAGE: GERRINGER ,CYNTHIA MARIE & APPLE, WILLIAM LEE,404, North Carolina, County Marriages (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP9F-3NRX : 28 November 2018), William Lee Apple and Cynthia Marie Gerringer, 31 Dec 1967; citing Jefferson Township, Guilford, North Carolina,680, William Lee Apple
269,470, Cynthia Gerringer Apple,472, BIRTH:-APPLE , JOSHUA AARON,472, BIRTH:-APPLE , JAMES MATTHEW-,472, MARRIAGE: GERRINGER ,CYNTHIA MARIE & APPLE, WILLIAM LEE,404, North Carolina, County Marriages (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP9F-3NRX : 28 November 2018), William Lee Apple and Cynthia Marie Gerringer, 31 Dec 1967; citing Jefferson Township, Guilford, North Carolina,680, William Lee AppleBirthMar 1, 1949269,470, Cynthia Gerringer Apple,404, North Carolina, County Marriages (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP9F-3NRX : 28 November 2018), William Lee Apple and Cynthia Marie Gerringer, 31 Dec 1967; citing Jefferson Township, Guilford, North Carolina
DeathMay 22, 1998269,470, Cynthia Gerringer Apple
BurialPeace Lutheran Church, 6015 Frieden Church Rd, Gibsonville, Guilford County, North Carolina470, Cynthia Gerringer Apple
FatherColon Lee GERRINGER (1923-2008)
MotherDoris Marie SMITH (1929-2013)
MarriageDec 31, 1967, Guilford County, North Carolina269,472, MARRIAGE: GERRINGER ,CYNTHIA MARIE & APPLE, WILLIAM LEE,404, "North Carolina, County Marriages (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP9P-QL84 : 28 November 2018), William Lee Apple and Cynthia Marie Gerringer, 19 Aug 1967; citing Durham, North Carolina
Obituary Online notes for William Lee APPLE
3/2/2025
William Lee Apple
February 15, 1949 - February 28, 2025
William Lee Apple, February 15, 1949 - February 28, 2025, 76, died at Moses Cone Hospital after a long battle with his ailing health.
The funeral service is not yet planned and will be for close family to scatter his ashes at a favorite spot from his childhood.
I wasn’t sure how to write this obituary. So I googled it. It said to either simply give the dry details and move on or let your emotions go and say what you need to say. Dad always said that my brother was the good one and that I was the mean one. I have a problem with sugar coating things… I can’t. It’s just not who I am. I speak the uncomfortable words that others might be thinking but won't voice publicly. So here it goes…
Lee Apple was an odd duck. I write that as I am crying like a baby at the kitchen table . He would drive me crazy about making sure our vehicles were always topped off. A running joke between my brother and I was that he would want us to fill up pots and pans if we didn't have any empty gas cans available. He quietly made sure his grandkids had diapers and formula when times were tough. He was always up for stopping and picking up the whole family biscuits and hash browns. He gave more time/effort/money to take care of his little dog, Candy, than he ever did to take care of himself. Self sacrifice seemed to be a tenet that he lived daily. My brother and I used to joke that Dad could walk into a room with 50 strangers and walk out with 5 new best friends. That’s just the kind of guy he was. He and I butted heads more than once. That is what happens with two people who are too similar. He wasn’t the best dad, in my less than humble opinion. He wasn't around for much of my childhood due to divorcing my mom. I resented him for the longest time for not being there for my brother and I. But I truly feel that he more than made up for it over the years and as a PawPaw. He loved those kids as much as anyone could. I will always be grateful for that. I learned a lot from him. For good or bad, I am who I am because of who he was. I'm just as imperfect as he was and am trying to be better (just like he did). He will be sorely missed. Thank you Dad for everything, the lessons and the blessings. I will continue to work on myself and keep your example in mind.
Dad was preceded in death by his father Elisha, his half sister Margaret, and his ex-wife Cynthia. I hope they are showing him around Heaven and that he is now free to put the mountain of salt on his food that he did in life but always got a lecture for doing so. With his strong Christian faith, I have no concerns as to where he was heading in the afterlife. Dad graduated from Northeast High School (back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth). His youth
was spent making the best of his time in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. He obtained the rank of Eagle Scout.
He served in the U.S. Army in the 82nd Airborne during the tailend of the Vietnam War. He never served in combat but always held his fellow soldiers in high esteem who did. Many of his friends never made it back from that war. It was a sore point for him for his entire life. As for furthering his education, he took classes at both N.C. State and A&T at different times of his life and for different reasons. Dad loved reading action/adventure books, watching zombie movies and TV shows, keeping his yard presentable, and spending time with his Grandchildren.
He worked at many jobs but none as long as he did for Lorillard (October 26, 1987 - July 1, 2016). He started at the bottom and worked up to a research and development position. He worked there for nearly 29 years and often talked highly of the work family he had there.
Dad was survived by a bus load of people who admired, loved, or were annoyed by him. His mother Opal (nearly 98), his sister Sandra (I won’t put down her age), her husband Steve, Dad’s brother Barry, his wife Donna, their son Chad, Chad’s wife Melissa, their child Mya. There is his son Matthew. Matt pulled Dad into his home for the last four months of Dad’s life. It would have been longer if Dad hadn’t been so stubborn about moving away from his house and moving closer to family who wanted to take care of him. Matt upended his life to make room for Dad. I will be forever grateful to him for that. Lastly comes his son Josh, his wife Jennifer, and Lee’s grandkids Lily and Will. If I missed anyone it is solely my fault and no one else's. Yell at me the next time you see me.
If you feel like donating please understand that the family really doesn’t need anything, We are doing ok and picking up the pieces Dad left behind. But if you do feel the urge to offer something please donate to Red Dog Farm Animal Rescue Network located in Stokesdale, N.C.. This was the planned future home for Dad’s dog Candy but it seems that other family members might be taking her now. Dad had a soft spot for that silly little dog and she loved him back.
The Apple Family is being assisted by Triad Cremation & Funeral Service in Greensboro.
https://www.triadfuneralservice.com/obituaries/William-Lee-Apple?obId=38171179 680, William Lee Apple
William Lee Apple
February 15, 1949 - February 28, 2025
William Lee Apple, February 15, 1949 - February 28, 2025, 76, died at Moses Cone Hospital after a long battle with his ailing health.
The funeral service is not yet planned and will be for close family to scatter his ashes at a favorite spot from his childhood.
I wasn’t sure how to write this obituary. So I googled it. It said to either simply give the dry details and move on or let your emotions go and say what you need to say. Dad always said that my brother was the good one and that I was the mean one. I have a problem with sugar coating things… I can’t. It’s just not who I am. I speak the uncomfortable words that others might be thinking but won't voice publicly. So here it goes…
Lee Apple was an odd duck. I write that as I am crying like a baby at the kitchen table . He would drive me crazy about making sure our vehicles were always topped off. A running joke between my brother and I was that he would want us to fill up pots and pans if we didn't have any empty gas cans available. He quietly made sure his grandkids had diapers and formula when times were tough. He was always up for stopping and picking up the whole family biscuits and hash browns. He gave more time/effort/money to take care of his little dog, Candy, than he ever did to take care of himself. Self sacrifice seemed to be a tenet that he lived daily. My brother and I used to joke that Dad could walk into a room with 50 strangers and walk out with 5 new best friends. That’s just the kind of guy he was. He and I butted heads more than once. That is what happens with two people who are too similar. He wasn’t the best dad, in my less than humble opinion. He wasn't around for much of my childhood due to divorcing my mom. I resented him for the longest time for not being there for my brother and I. But I truly feel that he more than made up for it over the years and as a PawPaw. He loved those kids as much as anyone could. I will always be grateful for that. I learned a lot from him. For good or bad, I am who I am because of who he was. I'm just as imperfect as he was and am trying to be better (just like he did). He will be sorely missed. Thank you Dad for everything, the lessons and the blessings. I will continue to work on myself and keep your example in mind.
Dad was preceded in death by his father Elisha, his half sister Margaret, and his ex-wife Cynthia. I hope they are showing him around Heaven and that he is now free to put the mountain of salt on his food that he did in life but always got a lecture for doing so. With his strong Christian faith, I have no concerns as to where he was heading in the afterlife. Dad graduated from Northeast High School (back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth). His youth
was spent making the best of his time in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. He obtained the rank of Eagle Scout.
He served in the U.S. Army in the 82nd Airborne during the tailend of the Vietnam War. He never served in combat but always held his fellow soldiers in high esteem who did. Many of his friends never made it back from that war. It was a sore point for him for his entire life. As for furthering his education, he took classes at both N.C. State and A&T at different times of his life and for different reasons. Dad loved reading action/adventure books, watching zombie movies and TV shows, keeping his yard presentable, and spending time with his Grandchildren.
He worked at many jobs but none as long as he did for Lorillard (October 26, 1987 - July 1, 2016). He started at the bottom and worked up to a research and development position. He worked there for nearly 29 years and often talked highly of the work family he had there.
Dad was survived by a bus load of people who admired, loved, or were annoyed by him. His mother Opal (nearly 98), his sister Sandra (I won’t put down her age), her husband Steve, Dad’s brother Barry, his wife Donna, their son Chad, Chad’s wife Melissa, their child Mya. There is his son Matthew. Matt pulled Dad into his home for the last four months of Dad’s life. It would have been longer if Dad hadn’t been so stubborn about moving away from his house and moving closer to family who wanted to take care of him. Matt upended his life to make room for Dad. I will be forever grateful to him for that. Lastly comes his son Josh, his wife Jennifer, and Lee’s grandkids Lily and Will. If I missed anyone it is solely my fault and no one else's. Yell at me the next time you see me.
If you feel like donating please understand that the family really doesn’t need anything, We are doing ok and picking up the pieces Dad left behind. But if you do feel the urge to offer something please donate to Red Dog Farm Animal Rescue Network located in Stokesdale, N.C.. This was the planned future home for Dad’s dog Candy but it seems that other family members might be taking her now. Dad had a soft spot for that silly little dog and she loved him back.
The Apple Family is being assisted by Triad Cremation & Funeral Service in Greensboro.
https://www.triadfuneralservice.com/obituaries/William-Lee-Apple?obId=38171179 680, William Lee Apple