Richard Felton Appleton

SOUTH YARMOUTH — Richard Felton Appleton, 82, of South Yarmouth passed away at home on Sept. 20, 2008, surrounded by his daughters.

He was the beloved husband of the late Ruth T. (Aylmer) Appleton, whom he married in 1952. They had been married 52 years when she passed away in 2004. He was the loving father of Deborah A. Appleton of South Yarmouth, Elizabeth J. Appleton of West Dennis and the late Robert M. Appleton, who passed away in 1986.

Dick was born in Newton and raised and educated in Westport, Conn. Following high school, he entered the Navy and served aboard the USS Garrard during World War II. He attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., and the Progressive School of Photography in New Haven, Conn., before moving to Cape Cod and joining his family's business, Appleton Hardware in Dennisport in 1952. In 1956, he became district executive for the Cape Cod Council of Boy Scouts and was responsible for the Lower Cape from Dennis to Provincetown and Nantucket. He also served as summer camp director at Camp Greenough in Yarmouthport for several summers.

In 1959, he moved to Norwich, Conn., and was director of scouting in Norwich and was camp director at Camp Quinebaug. He was also director of alumni at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute before returning to Cape Cod in 1969. He has worked for Mid-Cape Home Centers for the last 35 years until his recent illness. During his years on Cape Cod, he also worked as a videographer chronicling many weddings and other celebrations.

Dick volunteered at C3TV and was active in organizing Navy reunions of the crew of the USS Garrard. He was a charter member of the Rotary Club of Yarmouth from 1989 to the present and was active in their many local and world projects.

In addition to his daughters, he is also survived by two grandchildren, Jesse Appleton and Nicole Norman of California; a great-granddaughter, Skyla Appleton; and his friend, Ralph Frazier, whom he took home from work every night for many years. He was predeceased by his brother, Arthur Appleton, and his sisters, Jane Bond and Ann Anderson.

Dick was loved by many for his generous spirit, his loving ways, his willingness to help always and his wonderful sense of humor.

A funeral will be held at noon on Thursday, Sept. 25, in the Hallett Funeral Home, 273 Station Ave., South Yarmouth. Friends and relatives are invited to call on Wednesday, Sept. 24, from 4 to 6 p.m. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Dick's name may be made to the Rotary Club of Yarmouth, Good Works Fund, P.O. Box 448, South Yarmouth, MA 02664.