Fred Eugene Little, Jr., 94, of Wilmington, NC, passed away at The Commons at Brightmore on June 9, 2015. He was born in Wilmington, NC on October 5, 1920, son of Fred Eugene and Elizabeth Albright Little. He attended public schools in Wilmington as well as Porter Military Academy in Charleston, SC, and the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. He graduated from Davidson College, where he was a member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He served his country in World War II, stationed in North Africa as a Captain in the then U.S. Army Air Corps.
He was predeceased by his wife of 64 years, Betsy Hightower of Arlington, VA. They lived in Wilmington where he joined his father and brother Robert at Wilmington Printing Company. After 20 years, he left WPCo and opened an office to engage in commercial real estate sales.
At different times, he was president of the Printing Industry of the Carolinas, the Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, the Wilmington Regional Board of Realtors and the Committee of 100. He served on the board of BB&T (formerly Carolina Savings & Loan Association) for over 40 years. He held several positions over a 50-year span in his beloved Civitan Club of Wilmington, where he was a star salesman of Claxton fruit cakes.
He was a life-long member of First Presbyterian Church where he was a Deacon and Ruling Elder. He served on the boards of the Cornelia Nixon Davis Nursing Home and the American Lung Association.
He was a life-long member of the Carolina Yacht Club and the Cape Fear Country Club, where he served as President.
He is survived by his son Fred E. Little III (Tobie) of Fayetteville, daughters Meredith Little Hall (Vic) and Lizabeth Havington Little (Carter Sneeden), all of Wilmington, son John Albright Little of Wilmington; grandchildren, Fred E. Little, IV (Kim), P. Barrett Little (Kate), Kristofer P. Dorough and Leigh D. Pridgen (Alan); as well as two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his life-long friend and recent dear companion, Kathryn Perdew Minnick.
There will be a private service and interment at Oakdale Cemetery.