Sandra Sue Lindsey Appling, 83 years of age of Bowling Green, Kentucky passed away at the Medical Center in Bowling Green, KY on Sunday, August 23, 2026.

Sandra was born in Bowling Green, KY on August 2, 1943 to the late Ollie B. Keown Phelps Lindsey and Clyde Lindsey. She was a graduate of Bowling Green High School with many fond memories of her time there, including being a cheerleader for the Purples. She later graduated from Western Kentucky University where she earned an Associate of Applied Science, Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education and a Master of Arts in Health Education.

On June 21, 1963, she married her husband Robert Cary Appling and enjoyed 63 loving years together. Their marriage was full of love, deep appreciation for each other, and a role model for others in their lives on how to love one another.

Sandra was a member of Broadway United Methodist Church, Sisters in Christ, and was a board member for Hilltopper Athletic Foundation. Her greatest loves were God, her family, and the WKU Hilltoppers and Lady Toppers. If you were lucky enough to know her, then you’d know how incredibly proud she was of her four grandchildren who meant the world to her. They were her shining joy and her favorite topics of conversation.

Not too long after she graduated high school, Sandra went to work for Dr. George Ransdell, Sr. in his dentistry practice. A skilled dental assistant, she was encouraged by Dr. Ransdell to pursue the training necessary to become a dental hygienist, which she achieved, and returned to work for him. This valuable work experience led to her completing her formal education and becoming the Dental Assisting Program Director at Bowling Green Technical College; Assistant Director of the Bowling Green Technical College KATI Campus (Kentucky Advanced Technology Institute); and Director of Bowling Green Technical College, Main Campus. Later, she was appointed Director of South Central Community and Technical College, Glasgow Campus and then she was named Interim Director of the Owensboro Community and Technical College by the KCTCS President. In 2010, she was honored by the Governor of Kentucky, Steven Beshear, when he appointed her to serve as the Chair of the Bowling Green Community and Technical College Nominating Commission for the Southcentral Community and Technical College Board of Directors.

Sandra was a member of the international service sorority, Epsilon Sigma Alpha, which raises millions for St. Jude, at one time serving as State President. She was also named as a Kentucky Colonel for her volunteer and community service work.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother Bobby Lindsey and sister Betty Lindsey Dalton; son-in-law Stephen Cleary; and brothers-in-law Landon Dalton and Jerry Lawson and sister-in-law Jean Lindsey.

She will be forever missed by her husband of 63 years Robert Cary Appling and daughters Ginger Cleary and Amy Ground (Charles); grandchildren Morgan Cleary (fiancée Chelsea), Blake Cleary, Dalton Ground and Riley Sue Ground; her brothers-in-law Richard Appling (Heather), Alvin Appling (Joan), and Timothy Appling; her sisters-in-law Jane Pearson (Carrol), Sona Ross (Roger), Mollie Wade (Stephen), and Gayle Tucker (Garry); many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who were like family. As they mourn their loss, the family would like to extend special thanks to the devoted caregivers who helped to make Sandra’s last years happier and more comfortable and for whom the family is grateful.

Visitation will begin on Thursday, August 27 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Johnson Vaughan Funeral Home and will continue Friday from 12:00 to 2:00 pm with the funeral service beginning at 2:00 pm. Graveside service will follow at Fairview Cemetery

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Appling and Mosley Scholarship Fund which provides a scholarship each year to a WKU Men’s Basketball player and a WKU Lady Topper Basketball player, c/o College Heights Foundation, Western Kentucky University, 1703 Chestnut Street, Bowling Green, KY 42101 or online at http://Alumni.wku.edu/appling_mosley (http://alumni.wku.edu/appling_mosley)