Black

John Richard "Rich" Black, 79, of Slippery Rock Township died at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at his home following a three-month illness.

Born March 21, 1929, in Cowanshannock Township, Armstrong County, he was the son of John Burr Black and Mildred Katherine McMeans Black.

Mr. Black was a retired salesman for McDowell Implement, Sandy Lake Road, Mercer County. Prior to that, he was a dairy farmer and a barber.

Mr. Black was a member of the Center Presbyterian Church in Slippery Rock.

Mr. Black loved his family, and he was a member of the Slippery Rock Sportsmen's Club and the NRA. He enjoyed hunting.

He was an Army veteran and served during the Korean War.

He married Betty Anna Lawrence on April 11, 1975, and she survives at home.

Also surviving are a son, Richard K. Black and his wife, Ginger, of Rio Rancho, N.M.; two daughters, Susan D. Ezatoff of Prospect and Kathy L. Dilts and her husband, Richard, of Harmony; two stepdaughters, Barbara J. Wetzel and her husband, "Murph" Murphy of Harmony; and Kimberly J. Shoaf of Slippery Rock; a sister, Doris Jean Belotti and her husband, Alex, of Kittanning; a brother, William Paul Black and his wife, Lucy, of Lockhaven; and six grandchildren, John Black, Michael and Derek Ezatoff, Zoe, Kevin and Sophia Dilts.

He was preceded in death by a stepson, Donny Carothers, and a brother, Robert Duane Black.

<B>BLACK</B>— Friends of John Richard "Rich" Black, who died Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the <B>Smith Funeral Home</B>, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock.Additional visitation will be from 10 a.m. to the time of the funeral service at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. The Rev. James Boos, interim pastor of the Center Presbyterian Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery, Prospect.