Ralph Little

Ralph Henry Little, age 88, of Oakboro, passed away on Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at CMC - NorthEast. The family will receive friends at Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle on Thursday, March 28, 2013 from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm. The funeral service, officiated by Rev. Keith Walters, Rev. Jeremy Hyde, Rev. Adam Hatley and Rev. Robert Denny, will be held at Mission Baptist Church on Friday, March 29, 2013 at 2:00 pm. He will lie in a 30 minute state prior to the service. Burial will follow at Mission Baptist Church. Military Honors will be conducted by Stanly County DAV Chapter 12. At other times, the family will meet at his home. Mr. Little was born on July 20, 1924 in Oakboro, to the late Henry Little and the late Martha Ann Little. In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by a infant daughter, Henrietta Marie Little; great granddaughter, Brandi Nicole Boone; four brothers; Charlie, Howard, Dan and Ephraim Little, and four sisters; Naomi Huneycutt, Regina Carpenter, Menty Morgan, and Villi Ann Williams. Ralph is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Madie Little; two daughters, Bonnie Treece and husband Keith of Locust and Beverly Hyatt and husband Don of Marshville; a son, Alan Little and wife Carolyn of Oakboro; two brothers, Bill Little and wife Hilary of England, and Richard Little of Albemarle; nine grandchildren, Jeff Boone, Shari Dunn and husband Mike, Mike Boone and wife Michelle, Dina Pace and husband Greg, Danna Patrick and husband Micheal, Matt Boone and wife Nikki, Dustin Boone, Sabrina Smith and husband Dustin, and David Hyatt and wife Crystal; 13 great grandchildren; Jeffrey Boone, Jr. and wife Ashley, Alaina Pressley, Haylee Dunn,Kali Boone, Keri Pressley, Brittney Thompson, Makayla Boone, Lyndsee Dunn, Kristen Pressley, Colton Boone, Kameron Smith, Kyle Smith, and Kaden Smith; and one great great granddaughter, Lindsae Boone. He was a member of Mission Baptist Church where he had served as Sunday School Teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, Deacon and Trustee. Ralph served as a Stanly County Commissioner in the early 1950’s. He helped organize the Oakboro Rural VFD, where he was also a volunteer. He was a member of the VFW, and retired mail carrier, builder and farmer. Mr. Little served as a gunner on a B17 Flying Fortress in the Army/ Air Force in World War II. His plane was shot down in Belgium, and he was captured by Germans and held prisoner of War for a year. Memorials may be made to Salisbury VA Medical Center, Attn: Voluntary Service Office, 1601 Brenner Ave. Salisbury, NC 28144. Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is serving the Little family.