James Harold Black

He was born during the depression to “Buck” and Annie Black and was predeceased by his brother, Randolph; sister-in-law, Helen; and sister, Ruby Lee, all of whom he loved to tease from a young age.

Harold dropped out of VPI (RPI) to join his brother fighting in WWII and was in the European Theater in the Army Air Corp. He dreamed of becoming a pilot, but a cigarette ash that burned his eye got him medically disqualified while in the program. Luckily, for his children and their spouses, Wanda, Dianne (George), David (Lori), and Terri (Ricky), he met his first wife, Wilma, while he was stationed in Austin, TX. He had spotted a pretty girl at a soda counter and followed her home. She initially wanted nothing to do with him, but it quickly became love and within 2 months, he and Wilma were married. This union also included 9 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren and lasted for 49 years, until her death.

Harold was saying “Happy, happy, happy” long before Duck Dynasty and employed that philosophy in his career. Beginning at work at Byrd Airport, WRVA, and then at the engineering department of the American Tobacco Company. He was a conscientious worker and pursued his career as diligently as he pursued Wilma. He had a long career and eventually became the head of the Engineering Department with several patents in his name. It was difficult for him to retire, but he always had so much to do with responsibilities at church, large garden, fruit trees, pecan trees, fishing, water skiing, and other affiliations. Besides being a member of the Mann Page Lodge, he had joined Providence United Methodist Church at 13 and was an active member all of his life.

After Wilma passed, he reconnected with a high school friend, Ann, and remarried. This led to him splitting his time between Louisiana and Virginia with Ann, who he was married to for 24 years until she passed. This union, besides giving him great joy and a traveling buddy, gave him a second family to celebrate life and love with to include Christine (Xavier), Joanne (Sam), Victor (Jane), MaryBeth (Kim), David (Casey), Teresa (Chas), and Dom (Mary).

The family would like to thank all of the caregivers over the years: Dee, Melissa, Betty, Josey, Jake, Megan, Kristen, Robert, Michael, Charlotte, Candace, and Robinette (who he called Rosalee). We would also like to thank the staff at Sitter and Barfoot Veterans Care Center.

A memorial service will be held for family members at a later date.

Donations in his memory can be made to Providence United Methodist Church, 4001 New Kent Highway, Quinton, VA 23141; a veterans support organization of your choice; or Michael J. Fox Foundation, P.O. Box 5014. Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014.