Little Jr., Harland Bascum
Harland Bascum Little Jr., of Blacksburg, was reunited in God’s Kingdom Tuesday, April 28, 2015, with family and friends who preceded him in death. This blessed reunion included his parents, Harland Bascum Little Sr. and Ila Coulter Little; his brother, Arthur Craig Little Sr.; his sister, Margaret Little Smith; his son, Harland Kent Little; and an infant son.
Harland was born in Denver, North Carolina, July 9, 1923. In the midst of the Great Depression, his father moved the family to Waynesboro, Virginia, where employment was available. Harland graduated from Waynesboro High School in 1940 and then entered the Corps of Cadets at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in the anticipated class of 1945. For about two years, he served as a manager on the football team, in his words, “To get out of some hazing”. For these football efforts, he was awarded the VPI Sports Letter and was later named a member of the Monogram Club.
Like many VPI Cadets and thousands of other Americans, Harland left college to serve in World War II. He joined the United States Army Air Corps Reserves in 1942 as a Flight Candidate. He held high hopes of becoming a fighter pilot. He went through various training phases and locations, but was disqualified from advanced Fighter Pilot School due to his vision, despite his efforts to convince the doctors to let him pass. After some training in radio operations, he got the chance to return to Aircrew Status as a nose gunner in the B-24 Liberator Bomber. After gunner training at Davis Monthon Air Base in Tuscon Arizona, he and his aircrew were sent to the 451st Bombardment Group, 15th Air Force to conduct bombing missions from Castellucio Air Base, Italy. He and his crew flew combat missions against targets in Austria, Italy, and Czechoslovakia. When combat operations ended in Europe, Harland was awarded the American Campaign Medal with five battle stars, the World War II Victory Medal, and other awards and decorations.
Harland returned to VPI in 1945, where he met and married Nita B. Apperson in December 1946 in the Blacksburg United Methodist Church. Nita is a direct descendant of the Black family who founded the Town of Blacksburg. Harland graduated with a degree in Business Administration in 1949. During his VPI years, he earned extra money cooking popcorn in the Lyric Theatre in downtown Blacksburg. He also served as one of the first mail carriers in Blacksburg, and as a line supervisor at the Hercules Radford Army Ammunition Plant. He was eventually appointed as Postmaster in the Main Street Blacksburg Post Office. He retired from the Postal Service in 1984.
He was a faithful member of the Blacksburg United Methodist Church since 1946 and also faithfully served the community. He was a founding member of both the Montgomery County – Blacksburg Kiwanis Club and the Montgomery County Civil Air Patrol, in which he achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Other service included positions with the Blacksburg Chamber of Commerce and the Mayor’s Committee on Streets and Transportation. Harland also managed the development of Apperson Park in Blacksburg, formerly the farmland of the Apperson family. Proceeds from property sales essentially paid the college tuitions for many descendents of the Apperson lineage. Harland will be forever remembered by all who knew him as a man of great integrity, love, support, and a faithful husband and father. It is such a comfort to us to know he is with Jesus and his preceding family in the Lord’s Kingdom.
His survivors include his wife of 68 years, Nita Apperson Little; his sons, Craig Miller and Charles Michael Little; his grandchildren, Sheridan L. Little, Michael K. Little (spouse Marisol Little), Jill L. Sarsfield (spouse Mark Sarsfield), Coulter B. Little (spouse Aleia Sandoval Little), Anthony R. Little, and Kayla L. Guenther (spouse Jon Guenther). He is survived by great-grandchildren, Lauren and Ryan Little, Alexander Little, Emily Sarsfield and Addison Sandoval. Surviving nieces and nephews include Arthur C. Little Jr., Coulter Little, Elizabeth Little, William Smith, Allen Smith, and Ashley S. Sullivan. He is also survived by sisters-in law, Pam Mason and Mary Elliott. Surviving daughters-in-law are Pamela Little, Cindy Ray, Donna Little, and Cheryl Little.
The family will receive visitors at the Whisner Building, Blacksburg United Methodist Church, 1 p.m. Saturday, May 9, followed by the service at 2 p.m. in the Sanctuary. There will be a private interment at The Westview Cemetery following the service.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, University Development 0336, ATTN: Gift Accounting, 902 Price’s Fork Road, Blacksburg, VA 24061.