John Palmer Black, III was born January 8, 1939 to Mary (Ford) and John Palmer Black, Jr. ("Palmer") in Amarillo, Texas. After graduating from Amarillo High School, he studied at Texas Tech University, where he enrolled in ROTC and graduated with a degree in Industrial Engineering. After being hired by Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, he took a leave of absence to serve his country in the Army as an officer at Fort Bliss. After concluding active duty, he returned to his job and served five more years as a reservist.

In January, 1965, he married Darla Sue Crouch, whom he had known from elementary school onward and First Baptist Church (Amarillo). They moved to Dallas, Texas so John could work at the Southwestern Bell headquarters, and in May, 1966, they welcomed their first child, Nancy, and set up roots in the Dallas area. Their son Stephen was born three years later.

John and Darla were active in their church throughout their lives. Both sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, and served in various ministries for many years at Lakeside Baptist in Dallas.

John worked at Southwestern Bell in network management his entire career and retired as a District Manager after 30 years. He and Darla moved to Xenia in 2003 to be near Nancy and her family, and were active in their grandchildrens' lives. Soon after arriving in Xenia, they joined Dayton Avenue Baptist Church, where John taught an adult Sunday School class for many years.

John loved Jesus and his family, and left a legacy of faithfulness. He and Darla celebrated 53 years of marriage before Darla went to be with her Lord in November, 2018. John will be laid to rest in Woodland Cemetery next to his beloved "Darla Sue".

John is survived by his daughter Nancy O'Neel (husband Roger), his son Stephen (wife Brynn), his brother David (wife Beth), his grandchildren: Natalie Mishne (Eric), Collin O'Neel (Jess), Caleb O'Neel (Abigail), Nathan O'Neel (Nikki), Ethan O'Neel, Allison O'Neel, Quinlyn, and Declan; and his great-grandchild Karson Jameson.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, January 19th at 11:30am at Dayton Avenue Baptist Church, 1121 Dayton Ave., Xenia, OH 45385

Donations in his memory can be made to Hospice of Dayton, 324 Wilmington Ave., Dayton, OH 45420 www.hospiceofdayton.org/donations/

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.mccolaughfuneralhome.com.