Alma Dykes Littleton
One of Panama City's older citizens who has lived her entire life in Panama City passed on November 27th at the age of 94.
Born on August 19, 1921 to Oscar and Frances Dykes, Alma grew up in St. Andrew where her parents first owned and operated the Serve-U-Well grocery that supplied the locals as well as the fishing boats that docked at the wooden pier at the foot of 10th Street where the St. Andrew Marina stands today. As the town grew, the Dykes family opened the Piggly Wiggly store at Beck and 11th St., later moving it to Beck Ave. and Hwy 98 where it remained for many years. Alma's first job was working in the St. Andrew Post Office which was located next door to the Serve-U-Well and where she met and later married A. C. Littleton. They were married in 1942 in the Dykes family home at 2904 W. 10th Street.
Alma remembered sand dunes on Beach Drive, having to take the long way (via CR 388) to get to the beaches before the Hathaway bridge was built, and driving to Marianna which was a feat of mechanical luck, physical prowess and extreme patience due to the deep sand rut roads. She entertained her four granddaughters with tales of walking the old boardwalk that rimmed the bay shore line in St. Andrew, as well as wading the Bay waters and scooping up tubs full of crab and scallops.
Alma's legacy lives in her two sons, AC Littleton, Jr. (Ginger), John O. Littleton (Bobbie) and her four granddaughters, Gayle E. Littleton (Andrew Levy), Amy D. Littleton (Michael Vrchota), Gina M. Littleton (Todd McKinney) and Lisa L. Homer (Jon Homer).
She is predeceased by her husband, the late AC Littleton, Sr., her parents as well as her siblings, Maggie Dykes Breedon, OC Dykes, and Nixon Dykes. Her brother Harold Dykes (Lynette) remain.
Alma's great grandchildren include Preston, William and Davis Levy, James and Brandt Vrchota and Lillian McKinney.
There are few true Florida Crackers, and Alma was one of those few. Her recollections covered Panama City before there were any roads other than dirt tracks. She recalled the Tarpon Dock which was where the steamship Tarpon actually docked, and she attended Bay High School when it really was « on our city's northern border », graduating with the Class of 1939.
Alma worked all her working years as the bookkeeper for the family firm, AC Littleton Plumbing & Heating Company, which she and her husband, the late AC Littleton Sr. successfully ran for over 35 years. She doted on her sons and her granddaughters, and her special treat for all was her great attention to the Christmas holidays. Whether it was special food prepared with love and care, or gifts selected carefully for each family member, Alma remained the Littleton matriarch throughout her life. She will be sorely missed by her loving family.
Alma was a charter member of the St. Andrew Methodist Church, the St. Andrew United Methodist Church today, remaining a loyal member for 78 years. Graveside services will be held at 2pm on Saturday, December 5th at the family plot in Greenwood Cemetery with Rev. Amy Persons Parkes officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to the St. Andrew United Methodist Church in her memory. The family thanks everyone who has expressed sympathy and noted her passing.