Robert Theodore "Ted" Black

Robert Theodore "Ted" Black, 89, passed away covered in prayer on August 16, 2026, in Bedford, Texas. Born on December 16, 1936, in Norwood, Ohio, to Walter and Flavia Schoenberger Black, Ted built a life marked by curiosity, faith, friendship, and a deep devotion to the people he loved.

Ted never lacked for interests. He was an avid photographer, marathon runner, aviation and race car enthusiast, hunter, and fisherman. He approached life with an eagerness to learn and explore, always finding a new hobby to pursue, a new challenge to tackle, or a new adventure to share. Family photo albums tell the story well. Ted appears in surprisingly few pictures because he was almost always the one behind the camera, capturing memories for everyone else.

As passionate as he was about his hobbies, he was even more devoted to people. Ted possessed a rare gift for friendship. He could strike up a conversation anywhere and turn it into a relationship that lasted decades. He never forgot a face or a name, and he never hesitated to reconnect with someone simply because he thought they might enjoy company. Whether it was taking a widower to lunch, supporting a group of nuns he met in an airport, or calling an old friend out of the blue to share a hamburger and conversation, Ted made people feel remembered and valued. He was the friend we all wish we had: the one who called on a rainy day because he was thinking about you.

A lifelong and devoted Catholic, Ted was one of the founding members of St. John the Apostle Catholic Church in North Richland Hills. His faith was not something he spoke about only on Sundays; it was evident in the way he lived his life every day. During his 55-year marriage to his beloved first wife, Pat, he faithfully attended early Mass so he could later accompany her to Sunday School at First Baptist Church of Hurst. After marrying Betty Lutz in 2016, Ted and Betty shared an active Catholic faith and a loving partnership for the final decade of his life.

To his grandchildren, he was "Grandy." He attended basketball games, band competitions, recitals, celebrations, and family gatherings with enthusiasm and pride. He loved being present for the milestones large and small, and he found great joy in watching his family grow. Grandy was also famous for his mischievous sense of humor, his love of a good prank, and the twinkle in his eye that frequently signaled he was up to something.

Ted was preceded in death by his first wife, Patricia Munden Black; his brothers, Ken Black and Doug Black; and many dear friends whom he loyally carried in his heart throughout his life.

He is survived by his wife, Betty Black; his daughters, Sherrie Cyrier and husband, Mark, and Lea Ann Cockerham and husband, Bryce; his grandchildren, Catherine Fankhauser and husband, David, Caroline Bullard and husband, Michael, Drew Shaffer and husband, Rob, and Bryce Cockerham and wife, Aubrey; four great-grandchildren; and Betty's large and loving family of more than 50 children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, who embraced Ted as one of their own.

A Vigil Service will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, August 21, followed by visitation from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home in Colleyville. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 22, at St. Michael Catholic Church in Bedford. Family and friends are invited to a reception immediately afterwards in the Great Hall. Interment will follow at 2:00 p.m. at Bluebonnet Hills Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions made in Ted's memory to Cross Catholic (crosscatholic.org), a ministry that Ted supported throughout his life.

Ted's legacy is not measured by the miles he ran, the photographs he took, or the adventures he pursued. It is found in the countless friendships he nurtured, the family he cherished, and the extraordinary way he made people feel seen, remembered, and loved.