Reverend Fred Finley Doolittle

Reverend Fred F. Doolittle, 96, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on November 29, 2013. He was a native of Owatonna, Minnesota and a resident of Lake Charles from 1978 to 2001, when he moved to Sulphur, Louisiana. He was currently living in a local care facility. Reverend Doolittle worked for years as a jewelry tool and die- maker, first in Owatonna, MN for Josten Jewelry Co., then in Houston, TX for Star Engraving Co., and later in St. Louis, MO for Eisenstadt Jewelry Co. After a short employment with Curtis Wright Aircraft Co., he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in February, 1942. He trained as a bombardier/ navigator, obtaining field-grade Captain Status and serving as a squadron commander. After injury in a parachute accident, he was honorably discharged from the service on December 14, 1945. Reverend Doolittle returned to Houston to work again for Star Engraving Co., and surrendered to preach on Easter Sunday of 1947 at First Baptist Church, Heights, in Houston, TX. He was licensed to preach that year and was ordained in 1948. He attended the University of Corpus Christi, earning a BA in Religious Education in 1950. After graduation from college, he taught school for two years and was principal for one while pastoring two part-time churches until 1953. At that time he entered Central Seminary in Kansas City, KS, and graduated in 1955. While in Seminary, he taught school on a part-time basis while pastoring Santa Rosa Baptist Church in Santa Rosa, MO. In February of 1956, Reverend Doolittle accepted a call to Emmanuel Baptist Church in Monroe, LA where he pastored for ten years before accepting a call to Victory Baptist Church in Houston, TX, where he pastored for twelve years. While pastoring in Houston, he earned the Doctorate of Divinity degree from Universal Baptist Seminary in Nashville, TN. After the death of his first wife (Jean Peterson Doolittle), Reverend Doolittle moved to Alexandria, LA. Sensing a need for Christian Nursing Home administrators, he got state and federal licenses, and administered homes in Tioga and Shreveport, LA, before moving to Resthaven Nursing Center in Lake Charles. While at Resthaven, he held supply and interim pastorates throughout Carey Baptist Association. He retired in 1987, only to work at St. Martin de Porres in public relations and training; he was forced to retire permanently in 1999, due to his loss of vision. At the time of his death, Reverend Doolittle was a member of Houston River Baptist Church of Sulphur, Louisiana. He had been active in Carey Association work, and served as Chairman for the Credentials Committee. He served on the Trustee board for the Louisiana Baptist Retirement Center in Arcadia, LA, and had been active with local volunteer organizations such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, and the American Cancer Society. Reverend Doolittle is survived by his wife, Carolyn Smith Doolittle of Sulphur, two daughters, Karen Doolittle McGee and Judy Doolittle (Ken) Grant, both of West Monroe, LA, and one son, John (Pam) Doolittle of Jacksonville, FL. He also leaves six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and numerous nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great- nieces. Funeral services will be handled by Johnson Funeral Home, with burial in Hasley Cemetery in West Monroe, LA. Visitation will begin on Sunday, December 1, 2013 at 3:00 PM until 5:00 PM. Funeral services locally will be at 6:00 PM on Monday, December 2, 2013 in the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel. Reverends Lonnie L. Gothrup and Robbie Tibbitts will officiate. Graveside services will be held in West Monroe at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, December 3, 2013. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association. Honorary pallbearers will be Gerald Preston, Allan Carter, Marshall Guidry, Don Duhon, Greg Thrash, and Billy Lormand. The family would like to thank the employees of Resthaven Nursing Home for their excellent care and the employees of Brighton Bridge Hospice.