Herman LITTMAN

1919 - 2017

LITTMAN, Herman

Herman Littman died peacefully at Whatcom Hospice House on May 24, 2017 in Bellingham, Washington at the age of 98.
Herman is survived by six of his adult children: Carole Littman Lester, Dallas, Texas; Laurence Littman, Bow, WA; James Littman, Anacortes, WA; Susan Littman Dana, Bow, WA; Michael Littman, Hayden, Idaho and Patrick Littman, Everett, WA; sixteen grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Lucille Whatley Littman, and daughter Theresa Littman Mullins.
Herman was born on May 29, 1919 in Chicago, Illinois to Abraham and Mollie Littman. He attended the Art Institute of Chicago in 1939 prior to enlisting in the US Army. He graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in psychology and completed his post-graduate Masters at Eastern Washington State, Cheney, WA. He married Lucille Whatley of Sylacauga, Alabama in February 1942. Shortly after their marriage ceremony Herman was shipped overseas with the US Army, 82nd Airborne Division as a paratrooper. He served with distinction, but was captured in the Allied invasion of Sicily was spent the remainder of the war as a prisoner in POW camp, Oflag 64 in Shubin, Poland. After liberation, he returned home and continued his military career, with postings all over the United States, and Japan. In 1971, he retired after 30 years in the service and settled in Spokane, WA. He continued his association with the military, teaching and working in the Education Office at Fairchild AFB in Spokane, WA. He also taught at Spokane Falls Community College in Spokane. Over their 66-year marriage Herm and Lucy welcomed seven children into their home. For the last two years, he has been living with his daughter, Susan Dana on Samish Island, Bow, WA.
Herm was accomplished artist and often lent his talent to his wife's cake business and other creative projects. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved fishing and hunting. He was also an active member of the Oflag 64 Former POW organization and sponsored one of their reunions in Spokane in 2001. A frequent letter writer, he will be remembered for the many letters-to-the-editor he contributed to the Spokane newspapers.
At Herman's request, there will be a family attended gravesite interment only, scheduled for June 11, 2017 at Fairmount Memorial Park, Spokane. A more public memorial celebration of Herman's life will take place later this summer in Spokane. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to your local Veterans of Foreign War Post, or Hospice. The family would like to thank the caregivers of Hospice Whatcom County and Skagit County for their kind care during Herman's last days. In the words of the German soldier who captured Herman in that field in Sicily, Herman, "For you the war is over." God Speed and God Bless.