Donna Lee Littleton
April 16, 1927 ~ January 22, 2022
Donna Lee Littleton passed away with peace and grace on January 22, 2022, at home, with family at her side. Beloved matriarch of a large family, Donna was ninety-four years old and had multiple myeloma bone marrow cancer and other health issues. Donna was born in Kingfisher, Oklahoma in 1927, but grew to have deep roots in Wichita. She was a graduate of Wichita State University. She later returned there to work her way up from a part-time clerk typist to Assistant Director of Human Resources. Her husband, Alfred Littleton, was the Golf Coach at WSU for 17 years.
Known for her warm heart and bountiful love of friends and family, Donna helped nurture three daughters, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She was an avid gardener and in 1996 moved to the Riverside neighborhood to be near Botanica and Sim Park Golf Course. Donna was also a lifetime member of Saint James Episcopal Church.
Donna was preceded in death by her father, Elmore Baillie; step-father, Gail S. Elston; mother, Ethel Elston; and husband, Alfred Littleton. She is survived by her daughters, Linda (Steve) MeGown, Cynthia Stone, Cheryl (Ben) Koerner, all of Wichita. Grandchildren include Dana Koerner, Jeff (Barbie) Koerner, Will (Shelley) Baxter, Brian (Sarah) Baxter, Rex Stone and Luke Stone. Great-grandchildren include Laura Koerner, Grady Perkins, Landon Koerner, Breckyn Baxter, Hudsyn Baxter, Boston Baxter, Levi Baxter and McKenna Baxter.
Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 28, 2022 at Downing & Lahey East Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Botanica, The Nature Conservancy or the National Park System. You can also toast her deep love of life and camaraderie by saying “cheers, dear” any day at 5:00 p.m.
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Alan and I send our deepest sympathies to all of you. We still talk about our 1st Christmas Eve with Caitlin at your parents home. Your mother made us feel so welcome that evening. She was always smiling and so friendly. We had not seen her in years, but just spoke of her this past Christmas . Sending Love to you. Maude & Alan Farrington
I feel privileged to have known this beautiful lady thru my dear friend Cynthia. Sherry Humphrey and I just visited with her in the last months. I am so glad we had that visit.
Such fond memories of Donna. Definitely a friend and supporter of WSU. Condolences to the family. Eric & Kathy Sexton
Well, I literally walked in on Donna, off-the-street with a question about Botanica, & I am so glad that I did. Some weeks later, I went to the Pumpkin Festival with Donna & Cynthia, which was a hoot. What a fun memory of such a welcoming warm woman. Sherry Skillwoman
First of all….Blessings and condolences to all of Donna’s Family. I know you miss her dearly, as I miss my mom, Beth Daniel. They had a very special and unique friend group. Ten girlfriends, who were friends for life. 😍 They would often rendezvous to various events and meet for quilt shows and Reunions. Because of this great group of friends, my mom moved back to Wichita from 2002-2012 and moved into the new Retirement Community, “Grasslands” with one of those girlfriends (I can’t remember her name!). I will never forget Donna’s kindness. Just about EVERY MORNING for 10 years, Donna would call Beth just to say “Good morning” and check-in on her ☺️ They had their ups and downs, as every relationship does but a shared history is a bond that cannot be broken. Through thick and thin, they still cared for one-another. My Mom’s last 5 years in Wichita were a rollercoaster of health challenges and I made dozens of trips back and forth from Orlando, sometimes bringing my daughter, Olivia with me. Donna and Al always opened their home to us. If I wasn’t staying in the guest room at the Grasslands, I stayed with Donna. After Al’s death it was so good to spend quality time with her, which I was able to do during a time when Beth had a couple of hospitalizations. Donna even let me drive Al’s car back and forth to the hospital. I think the first time I brought Olivia with me, Olivia was about 7/8 years old, traveling with her Raggedy-Ann and the two of them bonded over having the exact same Raggedy-Ann, dress and all! Olivia and I often think back on our Wichita trips and are very thankful for the special friendship that Donna and Beth had. She certainly is the last of a treasured generation that we will not forget. Her legacy lives on through all of you, her family. I miss both of them very much and pray that I never take for granted my friends who I have History with 🌷 We will all be very fortunate if at the end of our years, if we have the support of family surrounding us as Donna had with all of you. I loved keeping up with her through FaceBook! You always included Donna and kept her very busy, as she liked to be, in her last years. 🌸 🌻 🌺 God Bless – Connie Dugan and Family – Robert, Taylor and Olivia ✝️