Ottis Littlejohn

SHREVEPORT, LA - Ottis Littlejohn of Shreveport, born Aug. 25, 1921, passed away on November 2, 2015, of heart failure. Visitation will be in the Rose-Neath Chapel on Southside Drive on Thursday, November 5, 2015 from 6-7:30 p.m., with vigil service at 7:30 p.m. A funeral Mass will be at St. Mary of the Pines Catholic Church, 1050 W. Bert Kouns, on Friday, November 6, 2015 at 10:00 a.m., with Father Francis Kamau officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Park West, 4000 Meriwether Rd. Ottis was born on the Hagerty Plantation near Jefferson, Texas, to Theo and Wyley Euliene Walker Littlejohn, and grew up in Linden, TX. After graduating from high school, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and was stationed at Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction. Afterwards, he joined the Navy and served in WWII as boatswain's mate 2^nd class on the USS Long in the Pacific and in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska. He met Ensign Anne Krupa, Navy Nurse, at Great Lakes Naval Station and they were married in 1947. Ottis' talent as a cabinetmaker and blueprint designer, especially for Custom-Bilt Cabinets for 28 years, is still very much in evidence in area homes. Though Ottis attended the Catholic Church since the 1950's, he was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary of the Pines in spring 2003. He became an active member of the Men's Club and served as Eucharistic Minister at Mass and in the nursing home ministry. He was active in the Southside AARP chapter, and served as president for several years. Ottis contributed to the Norton Foundation of recorded history of WWII, the Aleutian Islands national WWII project, and the Colorado National Monument recorded history project. He was also recognized by Rotary International as a Paul Harris Fellow. Ottis enjoyed attending the BAFB WWII programs, and loved to travel, read, garden, and woodwork. He never quit learning. His favorite teams were LSU and the Atlanta Braves. Survivors include son, Joseph and Annette Littlejohn of Bossier City, daughter, Kathleen (Kathy) and Joe Cobb of Frierson, and daughter, Teresa and Heinz Huester of Colorado Springs. Ottis has 5 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers Oliver, Theo (Rip), and Kenneth, and sisters, Willie Mae Datray, Alice Coleman, and Linda Blizzard, all of Texas, and numerous nephews and nieces. Ottis was predeceased by his wife, Anne in 2003, brothers, William (Toby) and Pete, and sisters, Johnnie Marie Long and Lily Stabeno. Honoring Ottis as pallbearers will be Joe Cobb, Heinz Huester, Curtis Coleman, John Lobue, Jarrad "Bubba" Conly, and David Griffith. Honorary pallbearers will be Kevin Cobb, Ross Oglesby, David Mason, and St. Mary Men's Club. The family gives special thanks to Ottis' friend, Miriam Sharp of Grand Junction, CO, whom he re-met 5 years ago, after a lapse of 70 years. She and her family brought much joy to our dad. We also thank Dr. Richard Haynie and Dr. Paul (Corky) Davis and their staffs; the Overton Brooks VA staff; physical therapist Lance Tucker; and the Azalea Estates family of employees for their exceptional care and love for our dad.