Lloyd Alan Ditto

Lloyd Alan Ditto passed away August 22, 2024 at Na-
tional Healthcare in Joplin, Missouri. He was born to

Robert and Fern Ditto November 9, 1930 in Kansas
City, Missouri.
The family lived in Kansas City, Texas, Oklahoma,
and Neosho, Missouri where Lloyd graduated from
high school in the class of 1949. He was active in sports
there, playing football, tennis and American Legion
baseball. Lloyd was also in the senior class play and
served on the Class Reunion committee years later.
He played tennis for 40 years with friends at the
Roanoke public court and the Cypress Acres Tennis
Club. Lloyd was heavily involved in Little League
Baseball and helped build Henson Field with other
American League dads. He also enjoyed snow skiing,
fishing, and playing golf.
Lloyd attended Joplin Junior College on a football
scholarship where he met his future wife, Ruth Marie
Murray. They married in 1953 and together had one
son John. He graduated in 1951 and began working at
4-State Radio Supply Company. In 1977, Lloyd and
Clyde Morrison purchased 4-State Radio Supply and
Norman Electronics. These companies later became
Cardinal Electronics. He retired in 1996 after 45 years.

He was a partner in Arrowhead Development Compa-
ny from 1967 to 2002 which enabled many friends and

family to purchase property on Beaver Lake.
He served in the Naval Reserve from 1953 to 1958 in
Texas. He was a ground crew member on F4U Corsairs
and early jet aircraft.

Lloyd married Sara Belden in 1984. They traveled ex-
tensively including trips to Europe and the United

Kingdom. They enjoyed many Februarys on Padre Is-
land and Augusts in Cuchara, Colorado.

He was active in civic affairs. Lloyd served on the
Needs Assessment Committee for the Joplin R-8
school district and on an advisory committee for
Franklin Tech. He was a member of the Joplin
Jaycees, Optimist Club, and was a Rotary Club board
member. Lloyd was on the Jazz in Joplin Committee
from its inception to end. He and Sara were on the
Mercy Hospital Blast from the Past committee for 10
years.
Lloyd was preceded in death by his parents, sisters
Imogene Holloway and Roberta Duckstein, brothers
Harold and Carl Ditto, and nephew Dennis Ditto. He is
survived by son John, wife Sara, and stepsons Scott
Belden (Judy) and Russ Belden. Additional survivors

include nieces Donna Cupp (Steve) and Brenda Hol-
loway.

Dad was a kind and gentle man, a loving father and

husband, and always willing to help others. The fami-
ly would like to thank his caregivers at Freeman Hos-
pital, NHC, and a special thank you to Paula Pruitt,

his nurse and neighbor who always went above and
beyond in caring for Dad in the home.
A visitation will be held Sunday September 8th from
3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church,

509 Pearl Avenue in Joplin. A private family grave-
side service will be held following. In lieu of flowers

donations can be made to the Joplin Humane Society.
Arrangements are under the direction of Ozark
Memorial Park Crematory, Joplin.