Ronald D. Doolittle, 91, of Lakeland, Florida, passed away 11 May 2026. He was a retired minister and district superintendent.
was born 12 March 1935 to Ilow Doolittle and Marguerite Evans. He served in the United States Army before attending college and seminary.
He received his schooling from Indiana Christian University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree, his master’s, and ultimately his Doctor of Divinity in 1998.
He served as a minister in Tennessee at Gray’s Chapel (1962-64) and Nashville Benson Memorial Churches of the Nazarene (1964-1965). He then moved to the upper Midwest, pastoring at Chapman Memorial Church of the Nazarene in Michigan (1965-69), Indianapolis Broad Ripple Church of the Nazarene in Indiana (1969-73), and Milwaukee First (1973-74).
He then pastored further south at Savannah Central Church of the Nazarene in Georgia (1974-76) before pastoring at Columbia First Church of the Nazarene in South Carolina (1976-1987).
He returned to the upper Midwest, pastoring Kankakee First Church of the Nazarene in Illinois, from 1987-1998.
In May of 1998, he was elected superintendent of the Iowa District, which he led until his retirement in 2004. In addition to his ministry, he enjoyed golfing, hiking, and spending time in the mountains.
Ronald was preceded in death by his son, David Doolittle, and grandson, Trey Doolittle. He is survived by his wife, Rita Doolittle; son Jeffery Doolittle, five grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.