Carol E. Little, 84, of Corning died Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016, at his home in Corning.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24, at Pearson Family Funeral Service, 701 Seventh St., in Corning with the Rev. Andrew Bardole officiating. Burial will be in Prairie Rose Cemetery in Adams County. Military honors will be provided by the Air Force Honor Guard and Corning American Legion OURCQ Post No. 117. Open visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. with family present from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the 4-H endowment fund, in memory of Carol E. Little, 603 7th St., Corning, Iowa 50841. Online condolences may be left at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com.
Carol Edwin Little, son of Gerald Edmund and Signe Christina (Lundquist) Little, was born Nov. 29, 1931, in Jasper Township in Adams County. Carol attended Corning country school through eighth grade and graduated from Corning High School with the class of 1949. On Nov. 20, 1950, Carol enlisted in the United States Air Force. On Dec. 10, 1953, he was honorably discharged as Airman First Class for his faithful service, having earned the Good Conduct Medal and National Defense Service Medal.
Carol returned to Adams County and actively farmed his land in Jasper Township while working in other opportunities which included the Corning Creamery, local carpentry and construction projects, over the road trucking, retreading tires with Ruan-Bandag and the local printing industries. He worked for the State of Iowa and Adams County on road maintenance and bridge construction. Additionally, he drove the local school bus route and transported students to extracurricular events.
On Feb. 10, 1952, Carol married Margaret Jean Johnson at the Methodist Church in Corning. Following their marriage they moved to Rantoul, Illinois. They returned to Carol’s family farm in Jasper Township until 1958, when they moved to their home on Grove Street in Corning. In 1977, Carol built a family home on his farm in Jasper Township, where he resided until 2009, when he and Margaret relocated back to Corning.
Carol was an active member and local leader in the American Legion, board member for Prairie Rose Cemetery and a member of the local veteran’s board for many years.
Carol is survived by his wife of 64 years, Margaret Jean Johnson; children, Kim (Michael) Stargell, Jay Little and Bart (Jeanette) Little; brother Willard Leon (Carol) Little; grandchildren, Bradley (Jamie) Stargell and Jordan (fiancé Mark Petersen) Stargell; great-grandchildren, Taylor Jean and Rylea Anne Stargell; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Carol was preceded in death by his parents, Gerald Edmund Little and Signe Christina (Lundquist) Little; brothers, Robert Little and Gerald Edmund Little and children, Edwin and LuJean.