David Black Jr.

David E. Black Jr., 90, of Kerrville, Texas passed from this life on Saturday, March 15, 2014. David was born in Bloomington, Illinois on June 1, 1923 to David Edmund and Iva Penner Black.

David was the only child of a steam fitter in Chicago, Illinois. He spent all of his life between his birth and his teens growing up around the city of Chicago, Illinois. Pipefitting was a family business, so of course after graduating high school he took up the trade. David was accepted in to the Pipefitters Union 597 Apprenticeship Program. Shortly afterwards, he enlisted in the Navy Seabees and was a Machinist Mate 3C V6 USNR. He spent initial boot camp in Davesville, Rhode Island after which he was attached to the station and then was sent to Port Hueneme, California. From the there he was then shipped to Guam where his battalion unit built the headquarters for Admiral Nimitz and his staff. Later, after the headquarters was completed his unit was transferred to a trucking transportation group on Guam that carried bombs and other important items from one side of the island to a deep port and an air field that housed B29s. Occasionally they would meet some enemy combatants that were separated from communication and were not aware that the American Forces had taken control of the island. Six months after the Japanese surrendered, David and his unit were sent back to the United States. Shortly after being back in the States he returned to Chicago, Illinois and resumed his Pipefitting career.

In 1947 David met the love of his life, Catherine Louise Staib, and they were married January 31, 1948 at St. Kilians Catholic Church in Chicago. David worked as a Pipefitter for 46 years. He and Louise retired in June of 1987 after which they relocated to Kerrville, Texas. David was a lifetime charter member of the National WWII memorial in Washington DC and a charter member of the WWII Museum in New Orleans. He was a great man who served his country and his city for many years, he will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
David is preceded in death by a daughter, Katherine Marie Black and a son, David E. Black, III.

Those left to honor and cherish his memory are his wife, Catherine Louise Black son, Douglas J. Black and wife Elsie of Humble and granddaughter Jennifer Daly and husband Steven of Glasscow.

A Celebration of Davids Life will be held 2:00 PM, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 at Kerrville Funeral Home with Rev. Arlie Lammers officiating.

Memorials may be made to the Kerrville Elks Lodge or Kathleen C. Cailloux Humane Society of Kerrville.

Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of the professionals at Kerrville Funeral Home. 830 8955111

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