Gene Applewhite, a long-time salesman at Bloomington-based Winters Associates (asi/362390), died on December 24 at Our Hospice of South Central Indiana. He was 86.

Born in Detroit in 1930, Applewhite graduated from Brownstown High School and later attended Hanover College. In 1965, Applewhite began serving at the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. He was appointed a special deputy at the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department in 1972, where he remained until 1981. Apart from public service, Applewhite worked for 37 years as a top salesman at Winters Associates. His sales skills only improved with age, as his milestone year for deal-making came in 2007.

Outside of work, Applewhite was known as a grilling connoisseur, an avid golfer and a huge fan of both Indiana basketball and the Indianapolis Colts.

Applewhite is survived by sons Andy and Erik, stepdaughters Lynn Evans (John) Coleman and Karen Evans, sister Nancy Applewhite Brown, and grandchildren Allison, Winter, Kasey and Maggie.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Our Hospice of South Central Indiana. Condolences and special memories may be shared with the family at barkesweaverglick.com.