Black

James D. Black, 83, of Downieville, near Valencia, died Thursday evening at UPMC Passavant Hospital in McCandless Township.

Born Aug. 6, 1924, he was a lifelong resident of Downieville in Adams Township, which was founded by his great-grandfather. He was the son of Dwight L. and Ruby M. Downie Black.

He had worked in the maintenance department of the Callery Chemical Co. and later for Air Products in Butler. Most recently, he was the line connection inspector for the Breakneck Creek Regional Authority.

He was a member and past deacon of the West Deer Bible Church.

During World War II, he was a captain and instructor pilot in the Air Force. He was a member and past commander of the local Civil Air Patrol and a member of the Mars American Legion. He also had served as a Republican committeeman in Adams Township.

Surviving are his wife, Marian A. Purvis Black, who he married April 30, 1947; two daughters, Carol Kier and her husband, Gary, and Linda Maurhoff, and her husband, William, both of Valencia; two brothers, Robert Black and his wife, Evelyn, of New Mexico, and David Black and his wife, Janice, of Zelienople; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Rebecca Lee Black.

<B>BLACK</B>— Friends of James D. Black, who died Thursday, June 26, 2008, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the <B>McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Home</B>, 238 Crowe Ave., Mars. Additional visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at the West Deer Bible Church, 4341 Bakerstown-Culmerville Road, Gibsonia, where services will follow at 11 a.m. A luncheon will follow the service.Graveside services with military honors will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday at the Mars Cemetery, Adams Township.Memorials may be made to the St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to the Lighthouse Food Pantry, 1302 Cruikshank Road, Butler, PA 16002.Directions and condolences are available at www.mcdonald-aeberli.com.