BLACK, JR., Arthur (Art) Claude

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Wednesday, January 04, 2012 Arthur "Art" Claude Black Jr. passed away peacefully at home in the loving embrace of his wife, Lorrain, and surrounded by his children on Dec. 22, 2011. Art was born Feb. 15, 1926, to Arthur C. Black and Lula E. Rhoda Black in Coming, N.Y., where he spent his childhood. He graduated from the Admiral Ballard Academy in New London, Conn., in 1944. After graduation, he joined the U.S. Navy and served as an aviation machinist mate, third class. During WWII, Art was stationed at Lambert Field in St. Charles, Mo., where he met and married Nancy Lorrain Dippel on July 20, 1945, after a whirlwind romance. In the early years after the war, Art worked for Butler Brothers Carpets, which launched his career in the carpet industry. In 1957, Art partnered with Eddie Evans to form Evans & Black Carpets whose main offices were located in Dallas, Texas. In 1967, E&B Carpet Mills was acquired by Armstrong Cork Company of Lancaster, Pa., where Art served as president and CEO of the E&B Carpet Mills Division, Carpet Operations and Vice President of Armstrong World Industries until his retirement in 1987. When he wasn't working, Art had a passion for cattle ranching and purchased some acreage outside of Midlothian, Texas - a small town south of Dallas. Weekends were dedicated to the ranch until his family finally agreed to move there in 1971 where they remained until Art retired. After retirement, Art pursued his new passion on the golf course. After a couple of years in Hot Springs Village, Ark., Art and Lorrain lived for almost 18 years at The Boulders in Scottsdale, Ariz. They later moved to Hassayampa Golf Community in Prescott where he lived the remainder of his life. Art will be fondly remembered for his honesty and integrity; his love for his family, his nation and his God; his competitiveness in the board room and on the golf course; and his love of a good joke and any John Wayne movie or episode of "Gunsmoke." He was a man of tradition, quietly generous and respected by his peers. Art will be missed and fondly remembered by us all. Art is survived by his wife of 66 years, Lorrain; his daughter Claudia and her husband, Lee Taylor of Framingham, Mass.; his daughter Janet and her husband Jimmy Duke of Lubbock, Texas; his daughter Nancy Hamerly of Prescott; his son Arthur C. Black III and his wife, Donna from Atlanta, Ga.; and his granddaughter, Kara Black, from Atlanta. Art is also survived by one sister, Virginia Homan, from upstate New York, and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be at Trinity Presbyterian Church on a date and time to be later announced. Donations may be made in Art's honor to Cal Farley's Boy's Ranch, P.O. Box 1890, Amarillo, TX 79174-0001 (www.calfarley.org) or Good Samaritan Society Hospice, 1065 Ruth St., Prescott, AZ 86301. Information provided by survivors.