Robert Ross Black Jr.

Robert R Black Jr was born on April 1, 1933 the son of Robert R Black Sr and Ruth Jean Black. He is survived by his sister Francis Black Newton and her husband James Newton; his two sons, Robert R Black III and William Brian Black; William Brian Black's wife, Melissa; his two step sons, John Michael Miles and Mark Butler Miles. He had four grandchildren; John Fincher Miles and April Miles Jerry who are the children of John Michael Miles. April Miles Jerry wife of Adam Jerry, has two daughters; and Addison and Avery; John Michael Miles and Allison Miles Ammons, wife of lan Ammons, are the children of Mark Butler Miles.

After graduating El Dorado High School in 1951, he attended Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri where he earned an Associate Degree. He graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Finance. He was a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity. After graduating college, he served six years of active duty stationed at Scoffield Barracks near Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United State Army serving a total of twenty years of active duty and the US Army Reserve.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Barbara Ann McDaniel who died in 1969 and his second wife Ann Butler Miles who died in 2022.

He served on a number of boards that included DeSoto Area Council of the Boy Scouts, the Union County Industrial Development Commission and the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce. He was active in the Rotary Club and the Civitans Club. He is a long time member of the First United Methodist Church. He was committee chairman of Troop 17 and advisor of Explorer Post 18. He was a silver beaver recipient of the Boys Scouts. He served as board chairman of the Gulf Shores Surf and Racquet Club.

He owned and operated Black Transfer and Storage Company until his retirement in 1994. He was an avid stock market investor. He enjoyed golf, tennis and small boat sailing.

He is to be buried beside his first wife, Barbara McDaniel Black, at Arlington Cemetery in El Dorado, Arkansas. Young's Funeral Directors will conduct a graveside memorial service at 1:00 pm Thursday, January 22, 2026.

Condolences can be expressed online at www.youngsfuneralhome.com