ORVAL ALBERTUS BLACK, JR
ORVAL ALBERTUS BLACK, JR. SON OF ORVAL ALBERTUS BLACK AND ADA PEARL (TILLOTSON) BLACK, WAS BORN IN CLARKE COUNTY ON AUGUST 28, 1926 ON THE FAMILY FARM. HIS COUSIN FERN SMITH, WAS THE MID-WIFE. HE PASSED FROM THIS LIFE JANUARY 12, 2009 AT THE CLARKE COUNTY HOSPITAL IN OSCEOLA, IA AT THE AGE OF 82 YEARS.
AS A YOUNG MAN HE FARMED WITH HIS DAD AND WENT ON HIS OWN AT AGE 21 WHERE HE FARMED THE CHARLEY EMERY FARM SOUTH OF TOWN AND THEN LATER ON THE PETE LEWIS FARM EAST OF OSCEOLA. FARMING WAS ALWAYS HIS GREATEST PASSION IN HIS LIFE AND STILL WAS. IN 1947 HE MARRIED CLARA GRIMM. THEY HAD THREE CHILDREN. ORVAL BLACK III “BUTCH” , JEANNIE LOU WOOSLEY AND GREGORY PAUL BLACK.
ORVAL WORKED FOR JUNIOR PRICE, JOHNSON PRODUCE (ORRIN AND WINNIFRED JOHNSON) FOR FOUR YEARS, GREAT PLAINS GAS COMPANY AND STANDARD OIL (JIM AND DONNA HAMILTON) FOR 14 YEARS. IN 1974 HE BOUGHT THE WHITEWAY CAFE AND OWNED IT FOR JUST OVER 5 YEARS. IN 1977 HE BOUGHT MARK’S CAB AND OWNED IT FOR 11 YEARS UNTIL SELLING IT TO HIS BEST FRIEND AND COMPANION, PARTICIA GREEN, IN 1988. DURING THIS TIME, HE OWNED AND OPERATED A USED FURNITURE STORE. HE RETIRED AFTER SELLING THE CAB TO PAT AND THEN DROVE THE CAB FOR HER. IN 1981 HE WENT TO WORK FOR AMTRAK AND WAS STILL WORKING FOR THEM 28 YEARS LATER AT THIS TIME OF DEATH WITH PAT’S HELP.
HE ENJOYED FISHING, RAISING A BIG GARDEN, FLOWER GARDENS, CHRISTMAS LIGHT DISPLAYS, WATCHING BIRDS AND SQUIRRELS, LOVED HIS DOGS AND ESPECIALLY LIKED TO SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. HE BELONGED TO OSCEOLA EAGLES AND THE ODD FELLOWS.
JUNIOR IS SURVIVED BY HIS BEST FRIEND AND COMPANION, PATRICIA GREEN; BROTHER, RON BLACK OF TEXAS; SISTER DONNA RITCHEY OF ST CHARLES, IA; SONS ORVAL A. “BUTCH” BLACK III AND WIFE PAM OF MOUNT AYR, IA; AN GREGORY BLACK AND TONI OF OSCEOLA, IA; DAUGHTER JEANNIE WOOSLEY AND HUSBAND, ED, OF CRESTON, IA; CARLA JONES AND HUSBAND TOM OF WELDON, IA; AND JULIE LAFOLLETTEE AND HUSBAND RANDE OF DES MOINES, IA; 23 GRANDCHILDREN, 32 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN, AND OTHER RELATIVES AND FRIENDS.
FUNERAL SERVICES WERE HELD THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2009 AT KALE FUNERAL HOME IN OSCEOLA.
INTERNMENT WILL BE IN MAPLE HILL CEMETERY.
