William Littler

William Edward Littler Jr., 86, of Adair passed away Tuesday, Oct. 20, at his home in Adair.
He was born April 3, 1929, in Atlantic, the son of W. E. Littler Sr. and Ozella Ruby Phillips Littler. He moved with his family to Adair in 1937 when the elder Mr. Littler purchased The Adair News. He graduated from Adair High School in 1947.
He started work at The Adair News as a "printer's devil" when a youngster and was setting the type for the news in the summer between the seventh and eighth grades. He became a full-time employee at the newspaper in 1947, and continued until his death.
He was married Dec. 26, 1951, to Joanne Johnson at All Saints Catholic Church in Stuart, while he was in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, spending 18 months in Korea.
After returning from Korea in 1953, Mr. Littler became business manager of The News until he and his brother, Robert P. Littler, purchased the paper and the Casey Vindicator Jan. 1, 1966, from their father. The Littler family also published newspapers for a time in Anita and Fontanelle. He later purchased his brother's interest in 1971, when the Adair and Casey newspapers were combined. He served as publisher and editor of the paper until 1991, when his son, William E. Littler III, purchased the business and Ed continued as news editor during his semi-retirement years and enjoyed writing his "It Seems to Me" column.
Littler was active in the community, serving on the Adair Community Health Center board of directors for 25 years as secretary and president, and president of the Adair Community Foundation. He also had served on the Adair County Public Health Service board; was a member and past president of the Adair Chamber of Commerce since 1947; served as Cub Master for three years; was a member and past officer of the Adair Conservation Club; member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion since 1953; a long-time member and past president of the Adair Development Co., served as treasurer for the City of Adair; member of the Iowa Newspaper Association and the National Newspaper Association; served on the Environmental Concerns Committee of the Iowa Newspaper Association and became its chairman in 1996; charter member of the 5 By 80 Country Club; member of St. John's Catholic Church, where he served as a trustee; became a director of the Exchange State Bank of Adair in 1992 where he served for 20 years; and served as mayor of Adair in 1992-93. He was a member of Adair's first Planning and Zoning Commission and served many years.
He was appointed to a six-year term in 1997 on the Adair County Examining Board. He was named Adair's "Citizen of the Year" for 1982. In 1995 he was named "Master Editor-Publisher" by the Iowa Newspaper Association, and served as co-chairman of Adair's Quasquicentennial Celebration committee for the 1997 event. He was grand marshal of the annual Jesse James Chuck Wagon Days parade in 2011; received the Iowa High School Athletic Association News Media Award in 2012; he was honored in 2013 as the speaker at the Memorial Day services in Adair and as Honorary Chair of the Guthrie County Relay for Life.
One of his proudest days was Oct. 30, 2013, when he was on a Korean War Veterans Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., 60 years after returning home from a 17-month stint in Korea with the U.S. Army.
In 2015 he was honored for his contributions to the Adair-Casey football program. The school established the Ed Littler Achievement Award to be presented in the future to anyone who has contributed to the Bomber family with an excessive amount of time and hard work. The award was announced at the first session of the 114th United States Congress by Rep. David Young.
Survivors include his children, William E. (Connie) Littler III, Mary Beth (Kevin) Petty and Diane (Adam Endres) Littler; grandchildren, William E. (Amy) Littler IV, Andy (Suzi) Littler, Ben Littler, Alison (Criss) Morris, Brian Petty and Cody Roberts; great grandchildren, Bryce Littler, Brock Littler, Becca Littler, Kate Morris and Madline Morris.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife on May 24, 1999; his brother, Robert P. Littler in 1999; his sisters, Geraldine Beer in 2006 and Luetta Duff in 2008.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, Oct. 22, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., at Hockenberry Family Care in Adair, with a Rosary service at 7:00 p.m.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Oct. 23, at the Presbyterian Church in Adair.
Burial will be in St. John's Catholic Cemetery, Adair, following the funeral service.