William Dana Black

Bill, as he was most commonly known, was born in 1927 in Montclair, New Jersey. He entered the U.S. Navy in 1945 in New York City at age 17, having first gained the consent of his father (a Navy Veteran of WW1). Bill subsequently went through boot camp at Sampson, New York that same year. After a week’s leave, he was sent to San Jose, California (Shoemaker) outside of San Francisco, California where he was eventually placed on board a Victory Ship bound for Saipan in the Marianas, a 21 day voyage. From Saipan he was assigned to a patrol craft (USSPC 1242) where he spent 11 months around various North and Central Pacific islands (including Guam, Iwo Jima, Truk and Wake Islands) during WW2 as a qualified petty officer 3rd class engineman (diesel). He was discharged in 1946 at Lido Beach, Long Island, New York in the USNR. Bill graduated with a B.S. from Rutgers University in 1950. He re-entered the Navy in 1953 during the Korea war and entered the OCS school in Newport, Rhode Island where he graduated with a commission as Ensign. He was married that same year and assigned to Bainbridge, Maryland as a battalion commander training recruits. He was released from active duty in 1955, but stayed in the USNR. Over the years he spent many different training periods in different locals. Bill retired from the Navy in 1974 as a Lieutenant Commander with a total of 29 years in the USNR.

As a civilian, Bill worked for Otis Elevator and Wallace and Tiernan in New Jersey as a product engineer in the production engineering department. He also earned a degree in 1966 from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York in product design. Bill was a member and vice president of the Maplewood, New Jersey Glee Club and member of the Maplewood, New Jersey Tennis Club. Bill was a member of the Morrow Memorial Methodist Church, where he was in charge of the ushers and on the executive board. He also was judge on the local election board for many years.

Bill is survived by his wife of 61 years, Janet, and their three sons, Dana (daughter-in-law Judith), Ward (daughter-in-law Kelly) and Alexander; and by five grandchildren, Stephanie (grandson-in-law Jon), Phillip, Alex, Drew and Aron; and by one great grandchild, Troy.

Funeral serivces with military honors will be conducted at 3:00 pm on Thursday, March 5, 2015 in the Katy Funeral Home, 23350 Kingsland Boulevard in Katy, Texas.