Thomas W. Littlefield

Thomas W. Littlefield

SOUTH OGDEN a€" Thomas Wadsworth Littlefield, 91, died peacefully in his sleep the morning of Monday, October 26, 2009.

He was born April 8, 1918, in Morgan, Utah to Joseph G. and Kate Wadsworth Littlefield.

He married his high school sweetheart, Myrtle Carrigan, on June 4, 1941 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. She passed away November 18, 2006.

Tom proudly served in the Army of the United States of America, New York 27th Division, during World War II, facing combat on Saipan and Okinawa. Tom fought in the last decisive major battle of the war against Japan in the summer of 1945 winning the beach head of Okinawa. Tom stayed in Japan during the occupation period to stabilize the defeated country and demobilize the Japanese armed forces.

Tom graduated from Morgan High School, Weber College, and Utah State University with a degree in education. He taught school at Hooper Elementary for four years. There were 55 students in his 6th grade class. He was promoted to Principal of Arsenal Villa/Municipal Elementary in Roy where he worked for 10 years. He was Principal for another 10 years at Washington Terrace Elementary, which was the largest school in the district. He retired in 1983 after being Principal for 10 years at Club Heights Elementary.

"Mr. Littlefield" was admired by his many students who called him their favorite principal. His goal was to know every student''s name. He personally touched each student''s life, whether it was putting an arm around them, buying much-needed boots or coats, or just listening to them. Mr. Littlefield loved joining the kids on the playground for football, kickball, dodge ball, or four square. He had a great sense of humor and would tell a child to go outside, find the switch on the tree, and turn off the wind.

Tom was a gifted athlete and enjoyed all sports. He was quarterback on Morgan High''s football team, forward on the basketball team, catcher on the baseball team, and number one singles player on the tennis team. He played football at Weber College as the quarterback and punter. In one game, Tom even broke his foot in the first quarter but continued playing and won the game! He loved to punt the "coffin corner" kick and could do it with precision. In 1937, Weber College played Pasadena City College in the Junior Rose Bowl football game in California. Tom relayed a story about a talented player from the opposing team who was the fastest man he had ever seen. He ran through them, around them, and away from them. That athlete was Jackie Robinson. In his retirement, Tom enjoyed tennis, snow skiing, golfing, sailing, and motorcycling.

Tom was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the South Ogden 38th Ward, now the 3rd Ward, serving in various capacities. He loved his work in the Ogden Temple.

Tom is survived by two daughters, Patricia Ann Fowers and her husband Norman; Vicki Jane Olson and her husband Brook; one son, T. Jeffrey Littlefield and his husband, Tommy. He loved his 10 adoring grandchildren, Holly, Marci, Heather, Kami, Tom, Nate, Audri, Mitch, Jenni, and Carrigan, and his 12 delightful great-grandchildren, Jake, Spencer, Alli, Connor, Hunter, Rylie, Ryder, Jonah, Annabelle, London, Kaleb, and Lexi. He was known to them as Grandpa Great!

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Joe, Garnett, Lincoln, and four sisters, Catherine Brockmeier, Virginia Malan, Bernice Stratford, Isabelle Thatcher, and Maudie Williams.

Funeral services will be held Monday, November 2 at 11 a.m. at Lindquist''s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd.

Family will greet friends at the mortuary on Sunday, November 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. and Monday from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m.

Interment, South Morgan Cemetery.

Send condolences to the family at: www.lindquistmortuary.com