Helen Jane Applefield

Helen Jane Applefield, 70, a resident of Dothan passed away Monday, June 22, 2015 at a local hospital.

A celebration of Helen’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 28, 2015 at the Sunset Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends from 5-7:00 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Southeast Alabama Child Advocacy Center, the Wiregrass Spay and Neuter Alliance, the Boys and Girls Club of the Wiregrass, or to the Wiregrass Horse Rescue and Sanctuary.

Mrs. Applefield was born May 1, 1945 in Harrisburg, PA and was a graduate of William Penn High School. She earned a B.S. Degree in Health and Physical Education in 1967 from Catawba College in Salisbury, NC. Helen married Bryan in 1967 and taught Junior High School in Lenoir, NC from 1967 – 1972. She obtained her Real Estate Broker’s License in 1973 which began her career in real estate. She moved to Dothan in 1980 and she and Bryan owned and operated Burger King Restaurants in Alabama, Georgia and Florida. Helen was engaged in managing their restaurants for over 28 years. She was an avid pilot for 25 years and held her commercial multi-engine license. She was an animal lover from a young age and especially enjoyed taking care of her Clydesdales. She was instrumental in the development of the Wiregrass Spay and Neuter Alliance, and was very involved in the community in various philanthropic campaigns touching thousands of lives through the years.

Helen was inducted into the Business Hall of Fame at her Alma mater, Catawba College, for her numerous business accomplishments. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank B. and Lois Walls Ertl.

Survivors include her husband of 48 years Bryan McComb Applefield; her son Bryan Scott Applefield and his wife Laurie Folsom Applefield; her twin grandchildren, Annabeth Walls Applefield and Bryan Alexander Applefield.