Benjamin Franklin Little

Ben graduated Fort Smith High School in 1941 and went on to be inducted into the Army Air Corp January 18, 1943 at Camp Robinson, AR. He was a POW, captured May 13, 1944 after his B17 was shot down over Osnabruck, Germany. He spent 11 months in Stalug Luft IV. After walking in an 86 mile “death march”, he was liberated by the English on May 2, 1945 He arrived home to Fort Smith on June 26, 1945.

Ben retired from Harding Glass Industries as Senior Vice President on January 1, 1986 after 39 years.

He was past National Director of American ExPOW, a Shriner, Mason (Scottish Rite of Free Masonry Valley of McAlester) and a volunteer at VA Hospital in Oklahoma City.

Ben has been a resident throughout his life in Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas arriving in Oklahoma in 1971. After his retirement, he settled in Snake Creek, Lake Tenkiller, Oklahoma. The “yellow house” holds many wonderful memories for his family.

Ben was preceded in death by his parents as well as his brother, Opie Reed Little, Jr., wives Rachel Redding Little in 1983 and Dorothy Fowlkes Little in 2011.

He is survived by his brother, Albert Lee Little (Fran); children, Mary Pracht (Gary), Lucy Moore (Phil), Rob Fowles (Pat), Denise Johnson (Bruce); grandchildren, Steve Pracht (Chong), Michelle Maestas (Steve), Eric Moore (Jackie), Jenni Leach (Jordan), Kristie Shenk (Gavin), John Fowlkes (Melissa), Tony Dalla Rose (Danica), Eric Fowlkes; Great grandchildren, Rachel Treutle (Jonathan) , Steven Daniel Pracht, Brenden Pracht, Adam Maestas, Alex Maestas, Ava Maestas, Caden Duvall, Crew Whitaker, Carter Leach, Tyler Hill, Ashley Hill, Caitlyn Fowlkes, Sofia Dalla Rosa and Drake Dalla Rosa; great great grand child, Jonathan Treutle.

Funeral Services will be 10:00 am Saturday, May 12 at Hahn-Cook/Street &Draper Chapel. Burial will be 2:00 pm Monday May 14 at Ft. Smith National Cemetery.

Donations may be made to Collings Foundation, PO Box 248, Stow, MA 01775, www.collingsfoundation.org, The Collings Foundation supports the Wings of Freedom Tour which travels around the country keeping alive the history of World War II aircraft.