Thomas Edward Black Jr.

Thomas E. Black Jr

Born in Waldo, Arkansas on July 17, 1942      Died July 13, 2023 in Hospice at Arlington Memorial Hospital

Parents: Martha Louise Reagan and Thomas Edward Black (both deceased)

One brother, Larry Hugh Black

He professed his life to Jesus when he was 15. He was a member of 1^st Baptist Church, McNeil, AR until 1964.

He earned the highest achievement award in Scouts but never received the award. His troup had disbanded.

He graduated from McNeil High School in 1960 where he was president of the senior class and had the lead in the senior play.

He attended Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, AR for 3 years. Later, he received his Associate Degree at Tarrant County Junior College in Arlington, Texas.

He met Vickie Jensen Black , a preacher’s daughter, at Latham Springs Camp & Retreat Center when he was 17 and she was 13. They married on  August 22, 1964 . They had 2 children. A son, Stephen Edward Black and a daughter, Christine Michelle Black.

He had 8 grand-children and 2 great-grandchildren

In 1965, he joined the Navy and was in active duty for 6 years. He was in the Nuclear Power Program aboard the Submarine, the USS Tullibee, stationed in Groton, Connecticut.

A unique submarine, the second ship of the US Navy to be named for the tullibee, any of several whitefishes of central and northern North America.  

He was honorably discharged in November, 1971.

He was a debit collector in Minden, LA when they married.

Manager at Silver Bell Apartments in Arlington, Texas

After 6 years in the Navy:

He was a Supervisor for Xerox

Owned Custom Cleaning Service, a commercial and residential cleaning business for many years.

Was an electrician for 20 years for the GPISD where he retired.  He maintained the kitchen in every school in Grand Prairie and enjoyed many warm yeast rolls and chocolate chip cookies daily.

He sang Bass and was Choir Director and Minister of Music in several churches from the time he was 16.

He was a Charter Member of the Arlington Civic Chorus, later known as The Arlington Master Chorale.

He led the singing and Vickie played the organ for worship services at Holiday Fox Run Estates for 3 years.

Member of Hilcrest Park Baptist Church for 7 years (1971-1978)

Member of Tate Springs Baptist Church for 44 years (1978-2021) While member, he and Vickie taught the Kindergarten Sunday School Class for 11 years.

Member of Matthew Road Baptist Church for 2 years (2021-2023)

He and Vickie loved to travel and spent time in Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, France, Spain, Scotland, Ireland, Hungary, London, Austria and Germany.

He was a volunteer for the Southern Baptist Convention of Texas Disaster Relief until his health no longer allowed him to participate.

He also volunteered at Morning Star Ranch in Milano, Texas for over 20 years.

He attended Bible Study Fellowship from 2020 until he died.

His hobbies were wood-working (puzzles, Nativity figures, etc., reading, singing and anything to do with his family.

He is survived by his wife, Vickie Black; Son-Stephen Edward Black and wife Cindi; Daughter-Christy Wright and husband Lance; grandchildren-Christian Daniel and wife Sharon, Lance Jr and wife Kera, Philip Wright, James Wright, Catherine Wright, Reagan Wright, Molly Wright and Abigail Wright; Great Grandchildren-Violet Oertwich and Jacob Daniel.

Visitation: Friday,  July 21,2023

6:00pm to 8:00pm

Matthew Road Baptist Church

4601 Matthew Road

Grand Prairie, Texas 75052

Funeral Service: Saturday, July 22, 2023

10:00 am

Matthew Road Baptist Church

Interment at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery

August 1, 2023

11:00 am

2000 Mountain Creek Parkway

Dallas, Texas 75211

In lieu of flowers donations may go to:

Southern Baptist Convention of Texas Disaster Relief

https://sbtexas.com/disaster-relief/donate