Please note this address correction: daughter Patti writes that Captain Black’s
most recent address actually was
1495 S
Milledge Ave. Athens, GA 30605.
Thank you to all,
~ Carol for the PCN
~ IN MEMORY ~
Military veteran, DL Capt. Reuben Black
September 10, 1936 ~ July 1, 2020
News has reached our group with the passing of Delta Golden
Wings member retired Delta pilot Captain Reuben Black, age 83. Captain Black joined Delta Air Lines 09-04-1962
and retired with Delta in 1996, based 031/ATL.
Widowed in February of 2019, Captain Black is survived by his children, his
grand- and great grandchildren, plus many extended family members and dear
friends.
Obituary information may be viewed online at
To the best of my knowledge, Captain Black had most recently
resided at
170 Marilyn Farmer Way, Athens, GA 30606.
Captain Black’s obituary notes that a Celebration of Life event
will be held at a later date.
Thank you,
~ Carol for the PCN
Obituary………………..
Mr. Reuben Black, 83
Reuben Black passed away July 1, 2020, from complications of
Dementia.
He was 83. Reuben was
born on September 10, 1936 to J.D. and Theo Godfrey Black in New Holland, GA
and grew up in Hall County, graduating from Lyman Hall High School. He attended
North Georgia College where he met the love of his life, Marjorie Pinson. After
graduating college he enlisted in the United States Army where he trained as a
Fixed Wing Aviator, a skill that would help him land a job he loved for 34
years as a pilot for Delta Airlines. During his career he served as Chief Pilot
and gained a reputation for being tough but fair and loyal to his fellow
pilots. He also was instrumental in working with pilots struggling with
addiction, getting them the help they needed to rehabilitate and return to
flying. After retirement Delta sent him to South Korea with a team to work with
Korean Airlines on cockpit management to help them improve their safety and
procedural issues.
So much of Reuben’s life has been about serving other
people. He was active in the scouting world, first as a scoutmaster and then as
a leader with Woodbadge, adult scout training. He and Marge were active leaders
of the youth program at Gainesville First Baptist and also the Johnson High
School Band Boosters, where they positively influenced many young people over
the years. He helped form a church whose mission was about serving the
community and each other. He championed the cause of AA and made sure there was
always a place for groups to meet. He and Marge brought numerous international
exchange students into their home over the years, and never hesitated to take
anyone in who needed a place to be.
Reuben’s greatest pleasure was spending time with his
family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He and Marge held
Grancamp for 25 summers with activities and trips based on a different theme
each year. It was a special week that allowed all the cousins to develop close
relationships that remain strong today.
In the last few years, Reuben committed much of his time to
working with a local non-profit, Project Dan, working with 98 different law
enforcement agencies training 5,000 officers to use Narcan/Naloxone to save
lives from opioid overdoses. This work was recognized with a declaration in the
Georgia State Senate a few years ago.
He was a member of Athens First United Methodist Church. He
loved playing tennis, working in the yard, and was an avid golfer until moving
to Athens and turning his attention to caring for Marge through her battle with
Parkinson’s disease and ultimately waging his own battle with Dementia.
Reuben was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of
almost 62 years, Marjorie Pinson Black, brothers, Douglas Black and Horace
Black, and sister and brother-in-law, Merle and Lewis Gaines. He is survived by
his children, Kathy Stansell (Roger), Patti Pitts (Rob), Jeff Black (Robyn),
Tim Black (Patricia), and Baris Savas (Christina), his brother, Stan Black
(Janice), sisters-in-law, Gladys Black and Martha Mooney (Steve), his
grandchildren, great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
If you would like to honor his memory, consider donating to
J’s Place, a community recovery support center, 1362 Juanita Avenue
Gainesville, GA 30501/Jsplacerecovery.org, or the charity of your choice.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
Memorial Park Funeral Home North Riverside Chapel, 989
Riverside Dr. is in charge of arrangements.
Send online condolences to www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com
……………………………………………………….
Wife’s obituary.........Marjorie Joyce Pinson Black died
peacefully on Wednesday, February 6th, 2019 surrounded by her family. She was
82. Marge was born on November 17th,
1936, one of three daughters of Lester and Cora Pinson. She lived in Chicopee
Village, Georgia, graduated as valedictorian from Gainesville High School, and
earned a degree in education from North Georgia College. She married her sweetheart, Reuben Black, on
June 9th, 1957. Marge and Reuben's greatest joy was spending time with their
grandchildren, most notably during their 26 years hosting Grancamp week, with a
different theme every summer…………………………………………………
Please note this address correction: daughter Patti writes that Captain Black’s most recent address actually was
ReplyDelete1495 S Milledge Ave. Athens, GA 30605.
Thank you to all,
~ Carol for the PCN