Ronald F. Litterst

Ronald (Ron) Frank Litterst died April 11 at home after a year-long battle with squamous cell carcinoma, an extremely aggressive form of skin cancer. 

Litterst was born Oct. 9, 1933 in Vallejo, California, the only child of Della Merrill (Hopson) and William Frederick Litterst. He went through his elementary and high school education in Vallejo before attending California Polytechnic College in San Luis Obispo. His education was interrupted for a short tour of duty in the U.S. Army in Germany during the Korean conflict.

In 1955, he fell in love with fellow Vallejo High School graduate Marcia Martin and they were married in March of 1956. After graduating from Cal Poly with a bachelor degree in mathematics, Litterst was employed by the Livermore Radiation Laboratory, later called Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. He worked at the Laboratory for more than 30 years, retiring in 1991 as a group leader/supervisor in the Computation Directorate. 

Upon retirement, Litterst and his wife traveled around the world and the United States, eventually moving to Redding, California in 1995. He was an avid tennis player along with golf and hiking worldwide and in the U.S. He was a member of SIRS and the Sons of Italy (SOI). He served as chef for many at the SOI fundraising dinners during these years and was especially known for his spaghetti sauce, making gallons for the SOI’s Paesano Days. He also served as “master” of the Redding Grange for several years. Always interested in woodworking, Litterst had a woodshop built on the property where he made beautiful furniture for family and friends.

Litterst is survived by his daughters, Allison White (Troy) of Redding, California and Sandra Zweep (Scott) of Oswego, Illinois; granddaughter, Marykate Fitzpatrick; grandsons, Sean Fitzpatrick, James Zweep and Eric Zweep; and great-grandson Jackson Fitzpatrick, as well as cousins Stephen and Theresa Bailey of Redding.

A farewell gathering will be held May 13 at 4 p.m. at the Sons of Italy Hall, 4850 Cedars Road, Redding, California.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Dignity Hospice, Mercy Branch, 1544 Market St., Redding, California 96001 or to your cause of choice.