Harold Little

Harold L. Little Jr. was born July 21, 1923 in Meridosia, Illinois. He was the son of Harold L. Little and Eva Marie Rausch. Jacksonville, Illinois was the epicenter of his early life along with the time he spent in Meredosia as a youth. He was the oldest of four children all of whom passed before Harold did. At the age of 17, on July 27, 1940 he enrolled in the Civilian Conservation Corp at Jacksonville, Illinois. The following December he left the CCC and enrolled in the United States Navy in 1940. The next six years Harold was in the Navy including time spent in a boiler room. Part of his service was on the USS Augusta. He received a citation from the state of Illinois for meritorious service for his naval service. In 1947, he had already left the Navy and then reenlisted in the United States Air Force where he first went to airplane mechanic school. On October 9, 1949, he married Jane E. Walker in Jacksonville , Illinois. He was 26 years old and she was 23 years old. Harold was stationed in California in 1951 where his son Christopher Lee Little was born September 24. Deborah LIn LIttle, Harold’s daughter was born in Salina, Kansas on December, 30, 1952. After these important dates in his life, Harold achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant and was entitled as an anircraft maintenance technician at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas on October 27 1953. During his Air Force career, Harold was also stationed in the following states: Illinois, Michigan, New York, and Arizona. Harold retired from the United States Air Force on June 1, 1965 after reaching the rank of Technical Sergeant. Harold was left with the duty of raising his two children when his wife Jane died on April 25, 1960. Debbie and Chris spent many of their formative years on various Air Force Bases. In 1966, Harold began another career with the Denver Zoo, starting off at first as a maintenance person and then becoming a zoo keeper. The Little family lived in Northglenn, Colorado at that time and Harold’s children Chris and Debbie both graduated from Northglenn High School and went on to graduate from college. Harold had a keen mind and showed an interest in activities and hobbies that gave him statisfaction and pleasure. He loved photography and cameras, air planes and flying, guns and target shooting, card playing with friends and neighbors. He was actively involved with the Masonic Order and reached the 32nd degree in ranking along with his involvement in Shriners. In later years, Harold spent much of his time traveling and visiting friends, children, and grandchildren. Posted by All Veterans Funeral & Cremation