Frank Eugene Little

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Frank Eugene Little, age 94, longtime resident of Foley, Alabama, passed away Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Dolly Hatch Little of Foley; an infant child, James Little; and a grandson, Lt. Col. Mark Stratton II of Staunton, Virginia.

He is survived by four children, Betty Horne (Charles) of Huntsville, Alabama, Franklin A. Little (JoLynn) of Foley, Richard D. Little (Wynona) of Oxford, Ohio and Dennis E. Little (Denise) of Hanceville, Alabama; 11 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

A graduate of Foley High School, Gene, as he was commonly known, joined the U.S. Navy in 1939 and served for the entirety of World War II, primarily teaching aircraft mechanics to new recruits. His future wife, a WAVE, was one of his pupils. He was dispatched overseas and was on a destroyer tender serving the USS Missouri.

Gene returned to Foley to become a farmer and a machinist, founding Little's Repair Shop, keeping many farmers and shrimpers in business for a half-century. In his later years he started a "we pick/you pick" garden offering blackberries, figs, mayhaws, vegetables, eggs and honey - and usually a good but lengthy story or lesson thrown in for free.

He worked in his garden until well into his 90s. He was especially proud of his mayhaw orchard, which housed the State Champion tree.

He spent the last year in the William F. Green Veterans Home in Bay Minette, Alabama.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, Feb. 6, 2017 at 10 a.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 502 Pine St., Foley.

A visitation and reception will follow at the church immediately after the ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Paul's Episcopal Church or to a charity of choice.

Arrangements by Pine Rest Funeral Home, 16541 U.S. Hwy. 98, Foley AL 36535, 251-943-5667.