Patrick Francis Little

Patrick "Pat" Francis Little, age 62, of Upperco, Maryland, died unexpectedly on Thursday, November 20, 2025, following a motor vehicle accident.Born on September 16, 1963, in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, Pat later moved with his family to Wilmington, Delaware. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps - a choice that shaped the trajectory of his life.

Pat proudly served his country as a Marine, including combat service in Beirut, Lebanon, where he survived the 1983 Marine Corps barracks bombing - a defining moment that deeply shaped his life. He received various decorations and medals, including the Combat Action Ribbon, for his service. He remained profoundly proud of his service as a Marine. His military career continued in both the Delaware National Guard and the Maryland Army National Guard, and he carried the pride and brotherhood of that service with him for the rest of his life.

Following his military service, Pat attended Wesley College in Dover, Delaware, where he later met his future wife, Eileen Compton-Little. They were married in 1992 and shared 33 years together, building a life full of stories, laughter, and a love that endured every high and low.

To know Pat was to love him - or at least to be pulled into a conversation. He was a natural storyteller, a man who could walk into any room and start talking to anyone. By the end of the night, he'd have made a new friend, found someone from a place he once lived, and still be talking as he walked out the door. Pat had an unmatched ability to make people laugh, even in tense moments, often defusing an argument with a well-timed joke that left everyone smiling.

Of all the roles he ever held, Pat was proudest of being a father. He was a fiercely protective, endlessly supportive girl-dad - the loudest, proudest voice in every auditorium and gym. At dance recitals, cheerleading competitions, school plays, musicals, award ceremonies, and graduations, you always knew exactly where Pat was. His cheering wasn't subtle; he had a voice that sounded like a drill sergeant (though he wasn't one), and it could shake the room. Yes, he embarrassed his daughter sometimes - but always out of pure, overwhelming love.

Pat loved the outdoors, especially hunting and archery, and he had a lifelong love of animals. He found deep comfort and joy in the companionship of his beloved Basset Hounds, Magnolia and Eddie, and even a pet pig named Hamlet, who quickly became part of the family and part of Pat's stories. He also had a passion for motorcycles - riding them, racing them, fixing them, and yes, sometimes crashing them too. He spent many years working in the motorcycle industry at dealerships and in parts sales before later changing careers to work with dogs as a kennelman at a hunting club. Being outdoors, surrounded by animals, was where he felt most himself.

He cared fiercely - about people, about animals, about doing the right thing even when life was messy or hard. Pat was loyal, stubborn in all the best ways, endlessly talkative, and absolutely unforgettable.

Pat is survived by his wife, Eileen; their daughter, Compton Grace Little; his mother, Kay Gaglione; and his sisters, Kelly and Anne Little. He was preceded in death by his father, Thomas Little, Esq. Pat is also reunited with his and Eileen's infant son, Patrick James.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, November 30, 2025 at 2 p.m. at Fletcher Funeral & Cremation Services, 254 E. Main St., Westminster. The family will receive friends one hour prior to service. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Pat's memory to K9s For Warriors – providing trained service dogs to military veterans living with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, or military sexual trauma. https://k9sforwarriors.org/community Crisis Center, Inc. – supporting neighbors in need in the local community. Eileen has served as Executive Director since 2017. https://communitycrisiscenterinc.org/

Pat will be remembered for his service, his loud laugh, his deep love of animals - especially Magnolia, Eddie, and Hamlet - his passion for the outdoors, and above all, the fierce devotion he held for his family.