John Leroy Black

John Leroy Black, 93, of New Brighton, passed away Sunday, July 16, 2017, at Franciscan Manor.

Born April 9, 1924, in New Brighton, a son of the late Oran E. and Mabel (Druschel) Black. He served as a radio operator for the U.S. Merchant Marines during World War II and was then drafted into the U.S. Army after the war. He retired from IBM after 30 years of service. John was also a ham radio enthusiast and master gardener. He loved to dance, enjoyed canoeing and was a member of the Canoe Trails, Beaver, and the Rochester Elks.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Edith (Lawson) Black, on December 14, 1996, and an infant daughter, Ellen.

Surviving are two sons, Eric Black, New Brighton, and Rev. Arthur Black, Portage, Pa.; two daughters, Jeanne Black and Susan (Delbert) Smilak, both of New Brighton; eight grandchildren, Joy McDonald, Stephanie (Jon) Barletto, Jessie (Brett) Inscho, Nikki (Nathanael) Camp, Ashely, Shelley, Jennifer Lori and Jonathan Black; two great-grandchildren, Brooke and Jessica Barletto; one sister, Kathleen Baker, and two nieces, Kathy (John) Forte and Dawn (Michael) Jurkiewicz.

Friends will be received Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the J&J SPRATT FUNERAL HOME, 1612 Third Ave., New Brighton, www.jjsprattfh.com, and Wednesday from 10 a.m. until time of funeral service at 11 a.m., with the Rev. John Phipps officiating, assisted by his son, Rev. Arthur Black.

Interment will follow in Sylvania Hills Memorial Park, Rochester.

Members of the Beaver County Special Unit will meet Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. at the cemetery to provide military honors.