Henry Thomas "Tom" Little

Henry Thomas (Tom) Little entered into eternal rest on January 2, 2018 following a 17-year battle with Parkinson’s disease and Lewy Body dementia. Tom always faced his many illnesses with grace and dignity.

He owned and operated Little’s Grocery in Claremont for several years prior to working at CommScope where he retired in 2000. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Newton. He graduated from Bunker Hill High School and was a member of the Claremont Lions’ Club and Claremont Volunteer Fire Department. He was Santa Claus for many years and often a clown in the Claremont Parade.

Tom most recently volunteered at Eastern Catawba Cooperative Christian Ministries in Newton for several years and was a member of a Parkinson Support Group. He enjoyed gardening and wood working, and sharing what he grew and made with friends and neighbors. He often started conversations and made friends by telling a joke.

He was born September 8, 1937 in Catawba County to Walter E. and Virginia Colson Little. Also preceding him in death were sister Mildred Little Bauguess and brother Ross J. (Bud) Little, sister-in-law Marta Hamilton and brothers-in-law June Bauguess, James Jarrett, Glen Miller and Glenn (Jeep) Yount.

Tom is survived by his beloved wife, Phyllis Hamilton Little with whom he celebrated 59 years of marriage on November 27, 2017. Tom adored his children and granddaughters: Lisa Little Cloninger and husband Jeff of Warrensville, NC, and son Thomas H. Little and wife Catherine of Greensboro, NC. He was Pop Pop to Camille Hefner (Charlotte, NC), Alexa Hefner (Florida), Virginia Little (Elon University), and Rebecca Little (Greensboro, NC). Also surviving him are sisters Emma Jean Jarrett, Nancy Miller and Linda Yount; brother Jack Little and wife Lorean of Claremont; and sisters-in-law Betty Little (Claremont) and Teresa Hamilton Hudson, her husband Bill and their daughter Natalie of Delaware Ohio. He has numerous nieces and nephews who were each dear to him.

The family would like to thank Trinity Ridge Nursing Home and Catawba Regional Hospice for their wonderful care in recent months. Family will receive friends from 4:00-6:00 pm, Saturday, January 6, at Drum’s Funeral Home in Conover. The memorial service will be held at Calvary Baptist Church in Newton (201 S. Main Ave., Newton), Sunday, January 7 at 3:00 pm. Interment will follow at the Bethlehem Methodist Cemetery in Claremont. His nephews will serve as pall bearers.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Carillon Fund at Calvary Baptist Church (PO Box 107, Newton, NC 28658) or Eastern Catawba Cooperative Christian Ministries (PO Box 31, Newton, NC 28658).

Condolences may be sent to the Little family at www.drumfh-conover.com

The Little family has entrusted funeral arrangements to Drum Funeral Home and Cremations in Conover.