Christine Fanning Doolittle of Tullahoma passed away on Saturday, Jan. 31 at her home, at the age of 94.

Mrs. Doolittle was born in Tullahoma to the late Jim Thomas and Effie Lee (Lowhorn) Fanning. Christine’s parents raised Christine and her siblings in the Winchester Springs/Tullahoma area with the family also living in Illinois and Indiana for periods of time throughout her upbringing where her father would go to work. Christine went to school in Winchester Springs, Harvey, Illinois, and Lowell, Indiana. Christine was a 1950 graduate of Lowell High School in Lowell, Indiana where she met her future husband John. Christine and John were married in 1952 on the Doolittle family farm in Lowell, and were married for nearly 69 years until John’s death in 2020. Throughout their marriage, Christine worked and managed the family while John served in the United States Air Force (USAF) and as a Credit Union employee/President. The family made many moves during John’s USAF service, establishing roots in Tampa, Florida after his retirement from the USAF. During her life, Christine worked as a switchboard operator for Bell Telephone Co. also manning the communications and switchboards on various Air Force bases as a federal civilian employee, as well as at the U.S. Federal Building in Tampa. Christine finished her over 33 years of federal service spending the last 24 years as a claims representative for the Social Security Administration in Tampa, Florida. In 1996, Christine and John moved to Tullahoma to be closer to her family and roots and to enjoy their retirement years.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John R. Doolittle, Sr; one grandson, Joseph Ryan Doolittle; one sister, Louise Upton; two brothers-in-law, Edward Upton, Sr, and David Carmichael; one sister-in-law, Clara Kurzeja; one niece, Rhonda Schultz; and all of her husband John’s sisters Jean, Betty, Barbara, and Joyce, and his brother Jay.

Mrs. Doolittle is survived by one daughter, Sandra L. Atwell; two sons, John R. Doolittle, II (Marcy), and Thomas W. Doolittle (Kimberly); two sisters, Charlena Peterson (Richard), and Patricia Carmichael; one brother, James Fanning (Angel); sister-in-law Donna Doolittle; Grandchildren, Tina Arendes, Patricia Arendes, John R. Doolittle, III (Carrie), Lindsey (Doolittle) Sikes (Tyler), Courtney (Doolittle) Adams (Trent), Thomas W. Doolittle, II (Sana), and Robert D. Doolittle; great-grandchildren, Cambryn Cummins, Logan Dumett, Olivia Doolittle, Sadie Doolittle, Deane Doolittle, Jack Adams, Indie Sikes, Kayce Sikes, and Laney Sikes; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Visitation for Mrs. Doolittle will be held on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026 from 10 -11 a.m. at the First Assembly of God in Tullahoma. Funeral services will immediately follow at 11 a.m. with Pastor Ron Forrester officiating. Burial will follow at Mount Garner Cemetery in Decherd. For those who wish, the family asks that donations in Christine’s memory be made to Joey’s Toy Box, 90F Glenda Trace #429, Newnan, GA, 30265 or at www.joeystoybox.net.

Kilgore Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Tullahoma News – Feb. 11, 2026