Lowell A. Littleton, excelled in football
Lowell A. Littleton, 84, died in Rehoboth Beach, Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018. He was born Feb. 28, 1933, to Katherine and Otis Littleton of Ashland, N.J.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 56 years, Joanne Till Littleton; and his brother, Otis Littleton. He is survived by his daughters, Patricia Littleton and Marjorie Mounce (Bob); his son, L. Arthur Littleton Jr. (Nancy); his sisters, Joan Dickerson, Jane Evans (Jim) and Alberta Brockerman (Bill); his brother, James Littleton (Nancy); his sister-in-law, Sandra Till Donato; his brother-in-law, Frank Till; his grandchildren, Stephanie Scott, Carolyn Scott Diebold (Jeff), Sarah Littleton Moran (Ed), Rachael Mounce Bonewicz (John), Abby Littleton, Robert Mounce and Matthew Lucas; his 11 nieces; his six nephews; and many close friends.
Lowell was educated in Delaware Township, N.J. (now Cherry Hill) from kindergarten to eighth grade. He attended Haddonfield Memorial High School and was a star football player for three years, and a key member of the undefeated 1949 team which won the South Jersey Group 3 Championship. He was selected to the 1950 All-South Jersey Team, and was honored by receiving the David Kelchner Award at the team's athletic banquet. In 1951 he received a scholarship to Valley Forge Military Academy where one of his teammates was Norman Schwarzkopf, who went on to West Point and became famous as the commander-in-chief for Operation Desert Storm in 1991 against Kuwait and Iraq in the Gulf War.
Close family members called him by his given name, Lowell, but he was known as Rock or Rockie by his teammates and his many friends. He received a full football scholarship to Wake Forest. As a freshman, he made the traveling squad and played on kickoffs against Villanova at Franklin Field (Philadelphia) in 1952 before many family and friends. He was a two-way starter at right tackle for three years at 205 pounds, an era when most of the starters played about 58 minutes a game. There were no offensive or defensive platoons. Rockie was selected by the Greensboro (NC) Daily News to their All-State Team, which included Duke and Washington Redskins quarterback Sonny Jurgenson. He was selected to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities at Wake Forest College (NC) in 1956.
Rockie was offered a job as an assistant high school football coach in Louisville, Ky., but turned it down to return to New Jersey, where he had a lengthy career at Campbell Soup. Rockie and Joanne bought their home in Westmont, N.J., in 1958, and it was their primary residence for 56 years. Rockie and Joanne also had a beach house at Rehoboth Beach, where they enjoyed spending summers with their children and grandchildren and the extended Littleton family. Rockie was an avid supporter of his grandchildren's activities and rarely missed a sporting event, concert or show.
Memorial Donations may be made in his name to Shriners Hospital Philadelphia. To offer words of comfort, or sign the guest book, visit www.benniesmithfuneralhome. Professional services entrusted to Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Millsboro.
