Industry mourns Bonnie Lee Appleton

Horticulturist Bonnie Lee Appleton died Sat. July 21.

A member of the Virginia Tech community since 1985, Appleton was based at the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center. She was instrumental in the development of the department’s off-campus graduate degree program. She was an instructor of many graduate classes and as major advisor to more than 60 master’s degree students.

In addition, she served the nursery, landscape, and tree care industry of Virginia and beyond through extensive applied research and extension programs.

Appleton received her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from the University of Delaware and Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University.

In 2010, she conferred the “professor emerita” title by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.

A message from the Virginia Tech Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center called her "an amazing woman; friend, mentor, colleague, author and teacher." 

In honor of Appleton's wishes, there will be no memorial service and her ashes will be scattered over the Chesapeake Bay. Her colleagues will plant a tree in her honor at the AREC this fall. Donations in her memory can be made to the Virginia Master Gardener Coordinator Endowment or a charity of your choice.

http://www.hort.vt.edu/mastergardener/