Obituary of Val Litton

Val L.Litton of Napa, California, died Wednesday, August 17, 2005 at Queen of the Valley Hospital in Napa, California. He was born February 14th, 1923 in Oberlin, Kansas to the late Ira D. and Viola Mary Litton. He had five brothers and two sisters, who have all preceded him in death. He attended local school, and in his Senior year at Decatur County High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Army at the start of W.W.II. He reached the rank of Corporal and was taken prisoner during the Battle of the Bulge. Released at the end of the war, he eventually came west to California and married Alice Arehart on June 1st, 1948 in Lodi, California. Alice preceded him in death on September 16, 1998, three months after their 50th Anniversary. Val and Alice moved to Colorado where their daughter Vallorie was born, then to New Mexico where their son Kevin was born, and finally to California, where their son Gary was born. Val started working in the grocery business in Southern California in the early 1950's, then moved to Berkeley and began working as a carryout clerk at the Co-op Market on University Avenue. He steadily rose through the ranks as a checker, produce manager, store manager, and eventually General Manager of the Bay Area stores. He managed stores in Berkeley, Walnut Creek, Palo Alto and El Cerrito. He retired from Co-op in 1972 and he and Alice, along with Bob Satake and his wife Dale, bought the Boardwalk Market in Tiburon, California. The owned, managed and worked at the store for 13 years, retiring completely in 1985. Val was one of the founding members of the Tiburon Rotary Club, a Mason, a member of the Lodi American Legion, and the Lockeford chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. One of Val's interests in life was the pursuit of new ideas. As a result, he was one of the first owners of a VW Beetle, when they were first introduced to the United States Market. He was also one of the first grocery store owners to start carrying Henry Weinhardt's beer when it was first distributed. He enjoyed playing golf, attending tournaments, and watching it on TV when he was at home. He was especially loyal to the Women's Tour and admired the career of Annika Sorenstam. He loved baseball, and attended many Giants and A's games, and followed the Atlanta Braves on TV. He is survived by his children, Vallorie (husband, Michael) Herndon of Gresham, Oregon, Kevin (wife, Tina) Litton of Napa, California and Gary (wife, Kim) Litton, of Folsom, California, and five Grandchildren: Stephanie Richards, Rachel Herndon, Deborah Herndon, Jonathan Tyrrell, and Manda Litton. At this request, a memorial service will not be held, but the family extends an invitation to those friends from his past to attend an inurnment ceremony at Lodi Memorial Cemetery, 5750 East Pine Street, Lodi, California on Saturday, August 27th at 11a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to Queen of the Valley Hospital Foundation, directed to the Cardiac Care Unit, P.O. Box 2340 Trancas Street, Napa, California 94558. Vallorie, Kevin and Gary would like to thank Dr. Paul Sweigert, Dr. Robert Klingman, Dr. Ardith Courtney, Drs. Johnson and Carson of Respiratory Therapy, Dr. Curran and Vickie Moore, R.N. , all the Nurses in the ICU and Step-Down Unit and Veronica of the CRT, for their care and compassion in our father's last days.