George Kenneth Littleton, Jr

Our beloved Dr. George Kenneth Littleton Jr, Ph.D. passed away peacefully at his Silver Spring Maryland home, surrounded by his loving family on May 26, 2025.

He was preceded in death by parents George and Elizabeth Littleton; brother Dr. Arthur C. Littleton; and sister Jean M. Littleton. Dr. Littleton (George) was born in St. Louis, MO, and graduated from Buchanan High School (Troy, Mo.), where he played varsity baseball and basketball.

He continued his education, matriculating at the University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, where he earned a Bachelors, a Masters and a Ph. D in Endocrinology.

Dr. Littleton was a gifted educator and realized that knowledge is power. He joined the faculty of Howard University in Washington, DC in 1975 and rose through the ranks to become an associate professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at Howard University College of Medicine. (HUCM) He taught and mentored hundreds of medical students on their road to becoming physicians. During his 47-year career at Howard University, his research was concentrated on prostate metabolism.

During the past 15 years, he focused on H pylori’s effect on molecular mechanisms of gastric ulcer disease. The author or co-author of over 35 publications, 40 abstracts, and one book chapter, he has distinguished himself as a university leader in research administration, having served as Associate Dean for research in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences for nine years. Since 1980, he secured over $38 million in institutional research funds and was a leader in obtaining external research funding at Howard University. He served on the President’s Committee to develop a Faculty Performance Evaluation System (FPES) and chaired the Committee at HUCM.

He served on the President’s Advisory Committee on Research; as a member of the Joint Academic Affairs/Health Affairs Research Advisory Committee; as Chair of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (1988-2010); as Chair of the Faculty Senate Research Committee; and as a member of the taskforce to design and develop the University’s first Office of Research Administration. He co-chaired the Faculty Senate Committee to determine “Institutional Base Salaries” (IBS) for faculty to obtain salaries from grants and contracts.

Early in his career, Dr. Littleton was a research associate in one of the country’s leading diabetes laboratories at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Littleton previously served as Graduate Faculty Trustee from 2011 to 2014. Dr. Littleton served on the Howard University Board of Trustees for a second term from 2015 to 2017.

Despite all his professional accomplishments, Dr. Littleton (George) was quick to say that his greatest joy and lifetime achievement was his family. He met and married his sweetheart and wife Carol Ann Harris, while they were students at the University of Missouri. They had been married for 65 years and raised three children - Brian, Leslie and Penya. He also had six grandchildren. Dominick Littleton, Jessica Littleton, Robert Steven Wilkinson Jr., Riley Littleton, Jeremiah Littleton and Sydney Wilkinson.

Dr. Littleton loved to cook and considered himself a grill master owning three grills and a smoker. He and Carol were active members of the St. Louis Club (the Club) often hosting the Club ‘s summer picnic at their home. The Club, which consisted of St. Louis residents living in greater Washington, DC and Maryland areas.

Dr. Littleton had a relationship with Jesus Christ and was a member of Olive Branch Community Church in Olney, MD.

He is survived by his wife, Carol Littleton, his three children (above) and daughter in-law Kimberly White Littleton married to Brian Littleton, six grandchildren (above), his sister, Jane M. Littleton, and his two brothers John W. Littleton and Larry J. Littleton as well as other relatives, friends and colleagues.

We will miss his powerful presence, yet gentle soul, kind heart, quick wit and humble spirit.

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