Elsie Mae Applegate

A Small-Town Beginning

Born on 27 January 1893 in Crothersville, Jackson County, Indiana, Elsie Mae Applegate entered the world into a bustling household. Her father, George W. Applegate, worked as a drayman, and her mother, Serilda White, kept the home while raising five children (four living by 1900). Elsie grew up surrounded by siblings John, Edna, and baby George, along with the occasional extended family visitor — a common rhythm of small-town Indiana life at the turn of the century.

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Blended Family Years

By 1910, life had shifted. Serilda had remarried Henry Toppe, and Elsie — now 17 — was listed as a “stepdaughter” in the household. She was literate and capable, already demonstrating the independence that would mark her adult life. The family dynamic was a blended one, a snapshot of early 20th-century resilience in the face of change.

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First Marriage and Young Adulthood

On 4 September 1912, Elsie married Wilford Mann in Marion County, Indiana, at just 19 years old. This marriage would be short-lived; by January 1917, Elsie wed again — this time to Orval Ray Tudor. Orval, the son of William Tudor and Viola A. Ellis, shared her Indiana roots and would remain her lifelong partner.

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Early Married Life in Indianapolis

In the 1920 census, Elsie and Orval were newly settled on Senate Avenue in Indianapolis, carving out their space as a young couple. Orval worked as a salesman for a tire company, and their household was just the two of them — a small, quiet partnership amid a growing city.

By 1930, they had moved to North Alabama Street and welcomed a roomer into their home. Orval, a World War I veteran, provided the steady income while Elsie managed the domestic sphere.

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Post-War Years and Community Roots

The Tudors remained firmly rooted in Indianapolis.

City directories in the 1940s show them living on East 75th Street, with Orval working variously as a carpenter, salesman, and electrician. Elsie managed their home and cultivated strong community connections.

By 1950, they had relocated to Pamela Drive. Elsie was “keeping house,” while Orval worked as a guard for a radio manufacturer. They remained a close, two-person household, though their circle of influence extended far beyond their walls.

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Civic Leadership and Public Service

Elsie’s obituary paints the picture of a woman deeply embedded in civic life. She worked for L.S. Ayres & Co. as a sales clerk for 24 years, retiring in 1964. She was a member and past matron of the Broad Ripple Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, a member of the Tarum Court Ladies Oriental Shrine, and the American Legion Post 3 Auxiliary.

She was not content to simply be a member — she served as past president of the Past Matrons and Patrons Association, deputy assessor for Washington Township for 12 years, vice precinct committeewoman for the Republican Party, and a delegate to the Indiana State Republican Convention.

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A Long Life Well Lived

Elsie lived to the remarkable age of 92, passing away on 24 June 1985 at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis after a brief illness. She had lived in Washington Township for 70 years, outliving her beloved Orval.

She was laid to rest in Crown Hill Cemetery.

Her legacy was one of steadfast dedication — to her work, her community, and the life she and Orval built together.

Want to share your memories of Elsie?
Visit Elsie Mae Applegate Tudor’s Introduction Page to add your stories, photos, and family lore. Every shared memory helps keep her legacy alive.

Talk soon,

~Kris

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Revisited by Bones

Ah, Elsie Mae… now here was a woman who knew how to leave her mark without ever needing to raise her voice. Born in a small Indiana town and ending her days as a grande dame of Washington Township, she mastered the art of blending graciousness with grit.

Twice a bride — and the second time, she got it right — Elsie built a quiet but formidable partnership with Orval Tudor. She kept their home steady through Prohibition, the Depression, a World War, and all the societal swirl that came after. And when she wasn’t keeping house? She was everywhere. Order of the Eastern Star? Check. Shrine ladies? Check. The Republican convention floor? Oh, she was there, too — likely with a clipboard, an opinion, and a plan.

She was the sort of woman who could greet you warmly at L.S. Ayres, charm your vote for her precinct, and still have supper on the table at a reasonable hour. Elsie’s life wasn’t loud, but it was wide — woven through with service, community, and the kind of civic engagement that makes a hometown feel like home.