Wallace Littlewood, executive of Phila. textile dye company
Wallace S. Littlewood, 92, of Gladwyne, a Marine veteran of World War II and the president of a textile dye house in Manayunk for 40 years, died Sunday, Oct. 18, of a stroke at Bryn Mawr Hospital.
Wallace S. Littlewood, 92, of Gladwyne, a Marine veteran of World War II and the president of a textile dye house in Manayunk for 40 years, died Sunday, Oct. 18, of a stroke at Bryn Mawr Hospital.
Mr. Littlewood was born in Philadelphia and grew up in Bala Cynwyd. He attended the Episcopal Academy and the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science.
In 1942, he enlisted in the Marines. He served in the Pacific aboard the Bunker Hill from 1942 through 1945. He received the Purple Heart.
On returning home, he served the rest of his military term at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Among his duties was managing the vegetable garden. He was honorably discharged in September 1945 with the rank of sergeant.
Fresh out of the service, Mr. Littlewood went to work at his family's business, G.J. Littlewood & Sons Inc., 4044 Main St., and he served as president for over 40 years.
Mr. Littlewood was a great-grandson of Graham Littlewood, who bought the Schuylkill Dye Works in East Falls and changed the name to Littlewood in 1869. Graham Littlewood moved the business to Manayunk, according to the Newsworks website.
Mr. Littlewood told Newsworks writer Don Simon that although retired, he went to work every day. His sons and nephews run the plant, which dyes wool, cotton, jute, and hemp for mills in New England, the Midwest, and the South.
As recently as a generation ago, there were more than 100 dye works in Philadelphia, but "we are the last mill in Manayunk," Mr. Littlewood, then 89, told Simon in December 2012.
Mr. Littlewood was a member of the Navy League of the United States, where he served on the governing council for two decades. He also was a member of the Merion Cricket Club and the Union League of Philadelphia.
Mr. Littlewood's love of gardening never left him. For the last few years, he managed the retirees' multi-plot vegetable garden at Waverly Heights, where he lived.
"Everyone who knew him associated him with what were arguably the best-tasting tomatoes anywhere," his family said.
He is survived by his wife, Mimi Pearce Littlewood; sons David P. and James W.; daughter Anne Siembieda; 14 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and a brother. A son, Wallace "Skip" Littlewood, died in June.
Services were Monday, Oct. 26.
Contributions may be made to the Military Order of the Purple Heart, 5413 A, B & C Backlick Rd., Springfield, Va. 22151.
610-313-8102