Leonard Earl Little

Leonard Earl Little, 95, formerly of Kansas City, died Saturday, May 9th at Wright Memorial Hospital in Trenton, Missouri surrounded by family.

Leonard was born in Kansas City on October 2nd, 1930, the second son of Boyd and Dora Little. He attended classes at East High School before enlisting with the Navy in 1948 at the age of 17. During the Korean War, he served on the USS Badoeng Strait. His time in the Navy included stops in Japan, Guam, Southern California and a short appearance in Gary Cooper's 1949 film Task Force, partially filmed aboard the Badoeng Strait.

After leaving the service in 1956, Little worked as a Kansas City cabdriver for a brief period before starting in an entry level position in the Kansas City Main Post Office. Over the next 33 years of public service he worked in a myriad of logistical and supervisory roles with the Kansas City Main, ending his career in a vital leadership position. After retiring with the post office, Little began a new ground game with the Kansas City Parks and Rec, as Golf Marshall at the Hodge Park Golf Course. On Wednesday, June 5, 1991, he was within putting range of hole 6 when he was struck by lightning. Miraculously Little survived. While his umbrella and all of his clothes were immediately destroyed by the millions of volts of electricity, he retained consciousness throughout the ordeal and was treated at nearby Liberty Hospital for burns on his neck and legs. In the aftermath of his lightning strike, Little's story was retold on local TV stations and a front page article on the KC Star titled " Not the Most Pleasant Round of Golf". Beyond the imprint of local media, in the wake of the lightning strike he credited God for saving his life, growing out his hair as an emblem of his gratitude.

Leonard leaves behind four children: Mike Little of Lees' Summit, Tim Little and Maria Fugate of Kansas City, and Doug Little of Trenton; numerous grandchildren and several great grandchildren. Visitation will be held at 11:00am and service 12:00pm on Tuesday, May 19th at Longview Funeral Home with burial to follow at Longview Cemetery.