SUNBURY — One of the region’s business and community leaders has died. John Apple of Northumberland died Monday night at the age of 86. Apple was vice-president and part owner of Butter-Krust Baking Company. He also served on the board of directors for many organizations including Sunbury Area Community Foundation, John A. Apple Foundation, Sunbury’s Salvation Army and the YMCA.
Sunbury businessman and former mayor Jesse Woodring had a close relationship with Apple as they both served on the Sunbury Community Hospital and Sunbury Area Health Foundation boards. Woodring says he was a tireless volunteer, “He was very approachable and just so willing to help and willing to do. I don’t know that he turned anybody away from whatever help they were looking for.”
Sunbury Attorney John Carpenter was close friends with Apple, “I’ve known him all of his life. He just was the greatest guy. You wanted to have him as your best friend. He was a quiet fellow but he was so kind and so steady. He had a dry sense of humor that everybody recognized him for.”
Thomas Gresh was vice president of sales for Butter-Krust Baking, “They were so nice to work for. John was just a perfect gentleman all the time. Later on, when I was full-time and eventually became their general sales manager, John was always so courteous about everything. He had such a wonderful sense of humor. Just a very dry sense of humor.” Gresh went on to say Apple kept track of all the people who worked for him over the years because he cared about them.
Apple’s wife Elizabeth died in 2010. We will have more on the passing of John Apple in upcoming newscasts on WKOK. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced. (Ali Stevens)