App-Alva, Agee. Loving husband, devoted father and grandfather, passed away peacefully Friday morning, February 14th in Southern Pines, North Carolina. He was 87.
Alva (Al) was born on February 19th, 1932 in Bridgeton, New Jersey to Dr. Frank App and Helen (nee Minch) App. He is a graduate of West Town High School in West Town, PA and then went on to graduate from Cornell University with an undergraduate degree in Agricultural Sciences followed by a PhD from Rutgers University. After graduating from Rutgers Dr. App spent two years in the US Air Force retiring two years later as a 1st lieutenant. He then spent several years working in the mushroom industry until he accepted a post-doctorate position at Johns Hopkins University. After Johns Hopkins, Dr. App worked nearly 20 years for Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research in Yonkers, New York as a principal scientist where he was instrumental in improving rice yields throughout the world. This included managing research and development activities for the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Banos, Philippines. He then worked for both the United Nations and then the Rockefeller Foundation providing consultation on agricultural practices throughout the world. He served on the Board of Directors for Campbells Soup for nearly 20 years until retiring from the board in 2007.
Dr. App and his wife Shirley spent their retirement years in both Pinehurst and Southern Pines, North Carolina. During this time Dr. App was charitably involved with The Food Bank, a cause he fervently supported, making generous donations of Campbell Soup products in order to combat hunger in Moore County, NC. He was also the Finance Chairman for his church in Pinehurst, The Village Chapel, serving in this capacity for several years.
Al is survived by his wife of 34 years, Shirley Anne App, her two children Pamela Powers January and husband Derick of Southern Pines, NC; Stephen Powers and partner Shay of Charlotte, NC; from a previous marriage to Barbara App, he is survived by a son, Jeffrey App and wife Joy of Houston, TX; his two daughters Linda Fleisher and husband Eric of Chappaqua, NY; Marylou Hovnanian and husband John of Carver, MA. He is also survived by six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
A memorial service at St. Joseph of the Pines, Belle Meade campus in Southern Pines, NC is yet to be scheduled. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made in his memory to The Food Bank, Sandhills Branch, 195 Sandy Ave, Southern Pines, NC 28387.
Online condolences may be made to www.bolesfuneralhome.com
Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.
