Irvin Clay Littleton

Irvin Clay Littleton, 91, of Odessa, Missouri passed away peacefully at his residence Friday, July 31, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.

Papa, Irvin Littletons’s Home Going Celebration will be hosted by the family at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 4, 2026 at First Baptist Church Odessa, 100 Highway OO, Odessa, MO 64076. Come and celebrate a life well lived for his savior Jesus and Give a hug, get a hug and wipe a tear for a man who deserves all of them.

If you’re able to bring a covered dish and a memory if you’re comfortable sharing. Thank you for loving our dad and husband.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Awana Children’s Program First Batist Church Odessa. Memories of Irvin and condolences for his family may be left at www.LedfordFamilyFH.com or on the funeral home’s Facebook page. Arrangements have been entrusted to Ralph O. Jones Funeral Home, 306 S. 2nd St., Odessa, MO 64076, 816-633-5524.

He served in the army reserves in a tank brigade in the Korean War years. The majority of his working life was at Kansas City, power and light company as a planner. In his younger years, he regularly did free electrical work for widows and anyone else that was in need. He married his wife Margaret and inherited two daughters, DeeAnn Portell and Angie Walkenhorst (deceased).

Upon retirement, he moved back to Arkansas for many years and most recently moved to Odessa to be closer to his son’s, Chris, Steve, and Donnie Littleton from a previous marriage. He looked forward to his Saturday mornings when his sons could meet him at JJ’s café. He was beloved by all.

Irvin was a kind man who struck up friendly conversations wherever he went. People mattered to him and he often remembered details about the waitress at JJ’s children’s names and what sports they were involved in minor details that most people either don’t ask or for sure don’t remember. That was the remarkable thing about him, his heart to connect and know people and pray for them and often gifting them with one of his famous Gideon Bibles.

Over the course of his life, he supported many missionaries, was a volunteer at vacation Bible school, a Bible study teacher, Gideon‘s member and Awanas children’s program volunteer. He always thought of ways to be a blessing to his local congregation most recently, First Baptist Church Odessa.

If you got up early enough, you would find him in his Bible study chair every morning studying God’s word. He loved the Lord and he loved other people.

Perfectly demonstrating for us, Mark 12:30-31 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

This was his life’s work and his lasting legacy. Being a load lifter by bringing in people’s trash cans, caring for a Neighbor’s cat while she worked the Night Shift among 1000 other small kindnesses that went mostly unseen.

He is survived by his wife Margaret, 5 children, 4 surviving, five grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren and many other relatives and friends.

He was a gentle and quiet man that made a mighty impact on many people and he will be missed. It’s comforting to know that we will see him again and that we don’t mourn as those who have no hope.