Wilbur "Blackie" A Black

Resurrection Celebration of Life Service for Wilbur A. "Blackie" Black will be held on Friday, August 11, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at the Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Murray Jones and Chaplain DeWane Dow officiating. Interment will be held in the Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege with military rites provided by the Martin-Horn American Legion Post #66 in conjunction with the U.S. Army Funeral Honors Team.

Wilbur Arthur Black, 96 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Tuesday, August 8, 2017 at the Christian Homes Care Community in Holdrege. He was born May 6, 1921, on the family farm, southwest of Lamont, Oklahoma, the third of four children born to Clarence Ervin and Alice Jane (Crees) Black. Blackie received his primary education from a country school near Lamont through the 7 ^th grade, and then attended Lamont High School, graduating with the class of 1939.

Following his education, Blackie worked at a Chevrolet dealership in Lamont, was employed by Oliver Curl at the local funeral home, and a propane business. Blackie also worked as a roustabout in the Oklahoma oil fields. On October 19, 1942, he was inducted into the United States Army Air Corp, and was stationed at the Air Base at Harvard, Nebraska. It was here, that he met his future wife, Ruth, at a dance who was training to be a nurse at Mary Lanning Hospital. While in the service, Blackie was trained for special Automotive Wheel Vehicle. He was transferred to Andrew Air Force Base near Washington D.C. and was later honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant from Camp Chaffee in Arkansas on February 11, 1946.

On April 2, 1944, he was united in marriage to Ruth E. Winquest in Holdrege, and to this union four children were born: twins: Dale and Donn, and then David and Denise. Blackie worked as a mechanic for Nebraska dealerships including: Ed Lowry Automotive in North Platte, Warren Huss Studebaker in Holdrege, Don Wilson Studebaker in Cozad, and Russ Swanson Studebaker in North Platte. While at North Platte, he was given the opportunity to buy into the Holdrege Warren Huss dealership with partners: Jim Creech and Harlan Schriner. They purchased and named the dealership CBS Motors. Within the first year, Blackie bought out his partners, and Black Motor Company was born on June 1, 1954. Throughout the years, they handled Studebaker cars, International Trucks, and Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge and Jeep. In 1970, Blackie built the new dealership on the old ice cream plant hardening room and in 1983, he built the dealership on South East Ave. Blackie enjoyed a long career in the automotive industry, and was very proud that he was able to work alongside Ruth and his children, to form a successful family business. He retired in 2006 at the age of 85. In 2011, Blackie was honored with the Lifetime Chamber Achievement Award at the annual Holdrege Chamber of Commerce dinner. On April 2, 2015, the couple celebrated their 71 ^st Wedding Anniversary, and on May 10, 2015, Ruth preceded him in death.

Blackie became a Christian an early age, and was baptized on January 1, 1950, by Pastor J.C. Jenkins in the Baptist Church in Holdrege. He served as moderator of the church for many terms, was a deacon, trustee, and also taught Sunday school. The family then changed their membership to Trinity Evangelical Free Church, where he has been an active member of the Jones Bible Class, and the home Bible study for many years. He was also a member of the Jachin Lodge #146 A.F. & A. M. of Holdrege for over 73 years and was honored with the Jordan Medal.

They enjoyed traveling, and took several trips to places including: Europe, Alaska, Israel, and Panama to name a few.

Besides his parents and wife, Ruth; he was preceded in death by two sisters: Clarice Goddard and her husband, Ford, and Mildred Pameticky and her husband, Ed; brother, Raymond Black in infancy; sisters-in-law: Fern DeLeisi and her husband, Tony, and Alice Nelson and her husband, Harold; brothers-in-law: Leslie and Raymond Winquest, and father-in-law and mother-in-law: Paul and Leila Winquest.

He leaves to celebrate his life; three sons: Dale Black and his wife, Donna of Grand Island, Nebraska, Donn Black and his wife, Linda, and Dave Black and his wife, Linda all of Holdrege; one daughter, Denise Panter and her husband, Joel of Holdrege; nine grandchildren: Joe Black and his wife, Amy, Sarah DeWald and her husband, Nate, Josh Black and his wife, Meghan, Michelle Black, Dustin Black and his wife, Mimi, Katie Nottingham and her husband, Tim, Aaron Svoboda and his special friend, Vanessa Reynolds, Adam Svoboda and his wife, Jenae, and Zach Svoboda; 12 great-grandchildren: Lily, Henry, Caleb, Leah, Isaac, Pearl, Olive, Fynn, Elly, Rowan, Amelia, and Jayde; sisters-in-law: Janet Winquest of Boulder, Colorado, and Lois Winquest of York, Nebraska; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 10, 2017 from the 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Blackie's honor, and kindly suggested to the Nebraska Prairie Museum.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.