EDWARD LITTLE March 27, 2019
Edward Little, a long-time resident of Los Alamos, went to be with the Lord, passing peacefully on March 27, 2019, just shy of his 99th birthday.
Ed is survived by his wife of 75 years, Mary, his son Robert, his daughter, Susan (Russell), his grandsons Michael (Courtney) and Jacob (Sara), his great-granddaughter Ellie, and cousins, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, William H. Little, Sr. and Elizabeth Little and his brother William H. Little, Jr. (Fleata).
Ed was born in 1920 in North Carolina. His family moved several times during his childhood as his father’s work required, and he grew up during the Great Depression. In the late 1930’s they moved to Greensboro, NC, where he met his future bride, Mary, in the high school band and also at church.
During WWII Ed answered his country’s call for service by enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1942. After training he received his Army Aviator wings. He was assigned to Bergstrom Air Field in Austin, Texas, where he eventually became an instructor pilot in the C-46 and C-47 transport aircraft. In 1945 Ed’s unit was preparing to deploy to the Pacific Theater when the war ended.
In 1943, Mary took a train from North Carolina to join Ed in Austin where they were married at the base chapel. The wedding dinner consisted of fried chicken at the “Chicken Shack” in Austin.
After the war, Ed and Mary returned to NC where Ed obtained his physics degree from the University of North Carolina. After a short stay in the Washington, D.C. area, Ed was accepted for a position at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory as a physicist in 1950. During his career Ed was involved in many projects at the Laboratory including the Scylla and Scyllac thermonuclear research projects. He retired from Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1985.
During those years in Los Alamos, Ed and Mary raised their two children, were members of the First Baptist Church where they served faithfully, and enjoyed the companionship of many friends.
While keeping their main home in Los Alamos, after retirement Ed and Mary traveled in their Airstream for several years. In 1990, they purchased a second home in Sun City, AZ where they spent their winters. Ed and Mary grew to love Sun City where they faithfully attended the First Baptist Church of Sun City. They enjoyed the company of many new friends in Sun City who were from all over the country and Canada. They continued to migrate between Los Alamos and Sun City for 29 years.
Ed enjoyed many interests and hobbies throughout his life including music, singing in the church choirs, playing an organ, history, genealogy research, writing, hiking, camping, birding, golfing, and photography. He especially enjoyed hiking around beautiful Los Alamos and northern New Mexico. He became an accomplished artist and especially enjoyed painting New Mexico landscapes. In his later years he also enjoyed working crossword puzzles and jigsaw puzzles.
Ed was a devoted Christian throughout his life. He proudly served his country in the military and with the national laboratories. He was a devoted husband and father. He was a proud grandfather and a great grandfather. He valued his friends. He was loved by family and friends and will be greatly missed.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the New Mexico Baptist Children’s Home, PO Box 629, Portales, NM 88130; https://www.nmbch.com.
The family of Edward Little has entrusted the care of their loved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home and Crematory of the Espanola Valley. 505-747-7477.
