Dick Litton 1932 -2025
Clarence Lee Litton, Jr., 93, passed away Friday, March 28, 2025, at his home after a brief illness. He was born March 11, 1932, in Akron, Ohio, the son of Clarence L. Litton Sr. and Lily Mae Oblisk Litton. From an early age, he preferred going by the name “Dick”.
A graduate of Warren G. Harding High School, Dick enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He was a decorated combat veteran of the Korean War, where he served as a forward observer in the 1st Marine Division. Dick was part of an expeditionary unit located on the Korean Coast that would coordinate artillery fire from the USS Missouri during the Inchon landings and the evacuation of Hungnam. He later served in the Marine Presidential Detail of President Harry S. Truman both in Washington, D.C., and at the “Little White House” in Key West, Florida.
After returning from the Marine Corps, Dick attended Youngstown College (Youngstown State University), and joined the City of Warren Police Department as a patrolman, serving in the motorcycle unit. On Saturday mornings in the 1950s, it was a common sight in Warren to see children waiting on the corner of Woodland and Oak Knoll for rides in the sidecar of Dick’s patrol bike.
He married Joan McDonald on October 17, 1953. Together they shared 65 years of marriage until her passing on August 26, 2019. They raised their family of three children in Warren. Dick and Joan enjoyed spending their summers at their getaway in Geneva-On-The Lake, and their winters at their home in Sebastian, Florida.
Dick had a distinguished career of over 40 years in the transportation and logistics industry. In 1979, he started Erieview Cartage, Inc., an over-the-road logistics company for Alcan Aluminum Corporation. Erieview gained national recognition for its sales performance and annual shipping volume. He was most proud of the relationships that he developed with his customers. Dick retired as President of Erieview in 1996.
A long time member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Dick served several terms as Treasurer of the church board. He was also a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Sebastian. He was an active member of the Masons, serving as Past Master of Old Eire Lodge # 3, where he was a 70-year member. He served as District Education Officer of the Grand Lodge of Ohio. He held membership in the York Rite and Scottish Rite bodies and the Shrine and Grotto lodges. He was also a member of the Warren Chamber of Commerce, the Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber, V.F.W. Post 1090, the Elks Lodge in Ashtabula and Warren. He also enjoyed being active in the Marine Corps League.
Dick was an avid supporter of all things “Warren”. He enjoyed listening to the W.D. Packard Concert Band on summer evenings and watching the Ohio State Buckeyes. He had a standing lunch every Tuesday with his boyhood friends, Herb Laukhart, Bill Sumner, and Jimmy Lewis. Above of all, Dick enjoyed being with his family.
Dick is survived by his children, his daughter Bonnie Meere, and his sons Richard (Denise), and Christopher (Dawn Rae); his grandchildren Alexandra and Jack Litton, Leo Meere, and Elizabeth Rossi; step-granddaughter Jessica Saker, and two great-grandsons, Elliott, and Pierce Rossi.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his step-father Edward Sayfoot, his sisters Lille Easterday, Elizabeth Stofira, Evelyn Como, and his brother, Warren Sayfoot, and his step-grandson Joseph Saker.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 3rd, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, located at 140 Cherry Ave NW, in Warren. Visitation will take place at 10 a.m. at the church.
The family wishes to thank Hospice of the Valley for the exceptional care provided to Dick during the last week of his life.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions in Dick’s name can be made to support the Children’s Garden at Mill Creek MetroParks. Gifts can be made payable by check to Mill Creek MetroParks Foundation, P.O. Box 596, Canfield, Ohio 44406, or by making an online gift below.