R. C. Littlefield

R.C. Littlefield, Jr. (called R.C.) was the only child born to R.C. I (known as R.) and Nettie Littlefield on Christmas Eve 1927 at their home in Dickens, TX. Being born six months after the death of his father, many people in the Dickens community had a hand in raising R.C. through the depression years of the 1930’s. These people included his Grandmother Littlefield, Grandmother Winkler, and uncles and aunts from both families. R.C.’s mother, Nettie, served as postmistress of the Dickens post office, District Clerk of Dickens County, and as an employee of various elected officials of Dickens County. 

Their family members were faithful members of the Dickens Methodist Church which was located directly across the street from their home. Nettie and young R.C. served as volunteer janitors and provided their home for food and lodging for visiting preachers during revival meetings. 

R.C. was valedictorian of the largest class ever (13) from Dickens High School in 1944. All four boys in this class enlisted and served in the U.S. Army at different times after graduation. None of these four brave soldiers saw combat as the war had ceased by the time they were trained and ready. R.C. had attended Texas Tech for two years majoring in Petroleum Engineering. At that time, the Army was offering 18-month enlistment tours and the GI Bill educational advantages. Since R.C.’s enlistment date was before December 31, 1946, he is designated a World War II Veteran. 

R.C. spent 21 days aboard the General Aultman troop ship including a four-day stop in Honolulu, Hawaii. More than 50 years later, he remembered how beautiful he thought Hawaii was and treated his granddaughter, Suzan, to a trip there for her high school graduation. Unfortunately, except for these four days, R.C. was seasick the entire trip to Korea. He arrived in Seoul, Korea, on Christmas Eve 1946 (his 19th birthday). After a cold, miserable night without heat or food, his squad was transported about 60 miles to Company A 3rd Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Hourglass Division, near Onyang, Korea. R.C.’s entire army tour consisted of training and performing guard duty of materials near the camp in what he called “a desolate and poor country.” After another long, seasick ride, R.C. arrived back in Fort Stoneman, CA, in February, 1948. He was honorably discharged March 1, 1948. R.C. and a TX friend took a Greyhound bus from CA to Texas. Nettie was almost as excited to see R.C. as his faithful dog, Flynn, who after sniffing to recognize his buddy ran at full speed around their house yelping and barking. R.C. was a dog-lover his entire life.  

R.C. reenlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves in 1950 serving with the 847th Order of Battle Detachment, 413th Civil Affairs and 4166 School Headquarters Units and retired as Major in 1975 with 25 years of military service.  

R.C. married his sweetheart, Anita Madge Reid, on May 16, 1950, in Clovis, New Mexico (NM did not require the 3-day waiting period that TX did for marriage licenses). Nita had six siblings. Being an only child, R.C. loved marrying into this large, close, loving family. R.C. and Nita were married 19 days shy of 74 years at the time of Nita’s passing (April 27, 2024). 

After being discharged from the Army, R.C. returned to Texas Tech College on the GI Bill and graduated with a degree in accounting in 1951. R.C.’s first job after graduating was with P & C Mechanical, where he worked for 10 years. In 1961, R.C. was hired by Raymond L. Lawrence, CPA. Ray encouraged R.C. to study and sit for his CPA certification. He worked and studied and earned his CPA certification in February, 1966. R.C. became a partner and helped to form Lawrence, Littlefield, Jacob & Ferris (CPA partnership firm). R.C. spent 40 years as a tax accountant before retiring in the early 2000’s. 

R.C. and Nita had lots of wonderful friends with whom they traveled and played many games of 42. As a couple with friends or family, they visited Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, South Dakota, as well as a few midwestern and eastern states. A few locations that were highlights for them both were Niagara Falls, Mount Rushmore, and a fabulous trip to Israel with a church group.  

R.C. and Nita loved their church…Southcrest Baptist Church. After R.C. and Nita married, they began attending Southcrest at its original home at 48th Street and Avenue P where R.C. gave his life to Jesus in April of 1955 and was baptized by Southcrest’s pastor, Wayland Edwards. R.C. and Nita were faithful and active church members their entire married life. Nita worked in the nursery and church office on Sundays. R.C. worked in various Sunday School departments helping to teach toddlers, 5th and 6th graders, young married couples, and, most recently, his own age group about Jesus and the Christian life that he exemplified. 

R.C. loved, truly loved, every person he met. Of course, the people most special to him were his family…especially his dear wife, Nita. Surviving R.C. are his children Robert Charles Littlefield III (b. July 22, 1952) and Jo Beth Littlefield Horney (b. July 15, 1957)…his grandchildren Suzan Celeste Horney (b. March 1, 1980), Ellie Kate Littlefield Studdard (b. January 30, 1991) and Cameron, Laura Marie Littlefield (b. April 5, 1996), and Robert Charles Littlefield IV (Rob, b. July 6, 2000) and Kondi…and his precious and only great granddaughter Molly Quinn Studdard (b. August 15, 2022). Also surviving R.C. is Nita’s only remaining sister Becky Reid Melton and Buddy as well as 16 nieces and nephews and dozens of great-nieces and great-nephews. R.C. had a wonderful, large family to love. 

R.C. will be well-remembered and missed by everyone who knew him in this life. He will be waiting to greet you again on the other side with his hand out and a hug to give.  

If you would like to give in memory of R.C., please consider Franklin Graham’s Samaritan's Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 or online at www.samaritanspurse.org