Retired Carthage Automobile Dealership owner, Mr. Sonny Apple and a longtime Carthage resident passed away at Richand Place in Nashville at 1:40 p.m. Thursday afternoon November 6, 2025 only eleven days before his 85th birthday surrounded by all of his family.
He was one of three children, two sons and a daughter, of the late Oliver Powell Apple Sr. who died March 7, 1947 at the age of 52 and Lena Hunter Apple who died August 21, 1982 at the age of 78 and was born Glenn Edward Apple in Chestnut Mound on November 27, 1940.
Two siblings preceded him in death, Oliver Powell Apple Jr. who died at the age of 47 on April 19, 1970 and Mary Frances Apple Eatherly who died at the age of 64 April 13, 1993.
Mr. Apple was a 1958 graduate of Smith County High School where he played football and basketball, was in the “C” Club, all his junior and senior years. His majors were science and mathematics, and he was in the science club two years and served as the secretary his freshman year. His freshman and sophomore year he was a member of the band, dance club, and Latin Club and was a member of the Junior Play Cast.
It was stated of him in the “58 Owl annual that; “Very few things matter and nothing matters very much”.
He received a bachelor of Science in Management from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro.
In Celina on October 21, 1961, he was united in marriage to Carthage native, the former Matha Ann Robinson. The ceremony was performed by United Methodist pastor, Rev. Sammy Cherry.
Mr. Apple was a member of the Carthage United Methodist Church and attended the Carthage First Baptist Church with his family.
He was the long time Chevrolet franchisee in the Tanglewood Community and retired on August 16, 2001 after selling Cumberland Chevrolet.
He and his wife enjoyed traveling and Sonny’s favorite pastime was playing golf.
Surviving in addition to his wife Martha Ann of sixty four years are their two children, David Apple and wife Angela of the Tanglewood Community, Robin Apple; five grandchildren, La Shae Nixon Johnson and husband James of the Defeated Creek Community, Kendra Apple Birtsch and husband Hunter of Lebanon, Christopher Nixon and wife Megan of the Defeated Creek Community, Davia Apple Dillehay and husband Seth of South Carthage, Candace Apple Herring and husband Tanner of Hartsville; eleven great-grandchildren, Nathan Johnson and wife Amelia, Emma Johnson, Anniston and Everett Birtsch, Carson, Lucas, Cameron and Caden Nixon, Lawson, Baylee, & Lowen Dillehay.
The Apple family requests memorials to the St. Jude Childrens Hospital.
The Apple family received friends at Sanderson in Carthage only on Monday November 10th from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. https://www.sandersonfh.com
All other services will be private.
Pallbearers: Nathan & James Johnson, Chris Nixon, Seth Dillehay, Hunter Birtsch, Tanner Herring
For more obituaries visit https://davidsoncountysource.com/obituaries/
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