Claire H. Applewhite

Applewhite, Claire H. (nee Krieg)

Claire Helen Applewhite, 70, passed away on November 15, 2025 at the St. Louis de Greeff Hospice House. She was the wife of Dr. Thomas Applewhite. They shared fifty years of marriage together.

Born in St. Louis, she was the daughter of Donald and LaVerna Krieg. She attended Cor Jesu for high school and Saint Louis University for college and her Masters of Business Administration. She was previously employed as an auditor for the Internal Revenue Service. Mrs. Applewhite was well known as the author of six mystery novels. She was also a staff songwriter for Big Fish Music.

She was a former President of the Friends of Birthright and the Missouri Writers Guild. She instituted the Voices of Excellence program at Loyola Academy, for which she published an instructional textbook. She was celebrated for her Voices of Excellence program by the St. Louis Women of Achievement.

She is survived by her husband, Dr. Thomas A. Applewhite; and her children, Dr. Bonnie Applewhite, Thomas R. Applewhite, and Timothy Applewhite. She was a loving grandmother to Hadessa, Tommy, Ruth and Victor.

The funeral service will be held on November 20th at 10:00 a.m., at St. Anselm Catholic Church with interment at Resurrection Cemetery. The visitation will be held on November 19th from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Kutis Funeral Home, Affton location (10151 Gravois Rd., 63123).

Memorial donations may be made to Birthright Counseling of St. Louis.