Doolittle, Donald Francis (1920-2017)

DOOLITTLE, ZEIHAN, CARPENTER, WILLIAMS, SMITH, GORDON

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:52:04

Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa, August 21, 2017

Donald F. Doolittle, 97, of Webster City, died Thursday, August 17, 2017 at Van Diest Medical Center. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, August 21, 2017 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Webster City with Father Stephen Meyer officiating. Burial will be held in St. Mary's Cemetery in Williams. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 20, 2017 at the church with a 7:00 p.m. Scripture Service.

Donald Francis Doolittle was born March 22, 1920 in Blairsburg, the son of Fred and Clara Zeihan Doolittle. Donald graduated from Blairsburg High School in 1938 and from the University of Iowa in 1942. He married Opal J. Carpenter on July 21, 1942 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Webster City. The couple lived in Salem, Oregon for a few years where Don was employed in the banking industry before returning to the Doolittle family farm south of Blairsburg where the couple farmed for many years before retiring to Webster City. Two sons were born to the couple, Dennis and Royal.

Don was always an active participant in community affairs. He was a member of first St. Mary's Catholic Church in Williams and then St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Webster City and the Knights of Columbus. He served the church in many different capacities through the years. He and his father were named Master Pork Producers and in 1969 he received the Master Farmer Award. Don served on the Board of Directors of the Farmer's Co-Op Elevator in Blairsburg for 15 years and was a Director of Farmer's National Bank in Webster City for many years. He also served on the Hamilton County Soil Commission and was very active in Hamilton County Farm Bureau. He served as President of the Tri-County Board of Education and served on the committee to build the current Hamilton County Courthouse.

Don is survived by his sons, Dennis (Pam) and Royal Doolittle, all of Webster City; grandchildren, Eric (Krystal) Doolittle of Williams, Grant (Molly) Doolittle of Ames, Anne Doolittle of Webster City, Joe (Amy) Doolittle of Ames, Kirsten (Chris) Williams of Dubuque, Susie (Kirk) Smith of Blockton and Royal Doolittle II of Florida; great-grandchildren, Paige, Brooklyn, Callum, Ali, Katherine, Charlotte, Clara, Truman, Winston, Stella, Chloe, Nolan, Benjamin, Tommy, Peter, Cora, Sam and Josie.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Opal; sisters, Marcelyn (Howard) Gordon and Marian Doolittle, and grandson, Dirk Doolittle.

Write a personal tribute for the family at www.fosterfuneralandcremation.com