WEST LIBERTY – Philip Richard Black, 89, of West Liberty passed away at 7:55 a.m. on Saturday, May 20, 2017 at Green Hills Care Center in West Liberty, Ohio. He was born in West Mansfield, Ohio on June 18, 1927 to the late Hobson and Esther (Fry) Black. He was also preceded in death by an infant son; a sister, Marge Pickett; and two brothers, Robert and Herbert.
On March 12, 1949 Phil married his wife of 68 years, Betty Jo Rotroff, and she survives, along with their two daughters, Rebecca Jo (Ken) Curtis and Melinda Jo (Lon) Peters, three grandsons, Matthew (Julie) Curtis, Ryan (Natalie) Peters, and Adam (Rebecca) Peters, five great-grandchildren, Andrew Curtis, Audrey Peters, Vienna Peters, Aiden Peters, and Lilly Peters, and two sisters, Mary Eirich and Rachel Cool.
A U.S. Navy WWII veteran, Phil served on the U.S.S. Franklin. He was the owner of Black’s Garage and Philip R. Black Real Estate and Insurance Agency in West Liberty. He was a former West Liberty mayor, a member of the American Legion, Mad River Lodge #161 F&AM, West Liberty Business Men’s Association, Logan County Board of Realtors, and the United Church of Christ where he served as a deacon emeritus. Phil also served on the committee that developed and built Green Hills. He enjoyed woodworking, furniture making, and antiques.
The family will receive friends 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, May 25, 2017 at the Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home, 101 Zanesfield Road, West Liberty. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 26, at the United Church of Christ, 212 Newell Street, West Liberty with Pastor Rose Michael officiating. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery in West Liberty, Ohio with military rites performed by the Logan County Veterans Honor Guard.
Memorial contribution may be made, in Phil’s memory, to Macochee Joint Ambulance District, 113 E. Newell Street, West Liberty, Ohio 43357, United Church of Christ, 212 Newell Street, P.O. Box 427, West Liberty, Ohio 43357, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Funeral arrangements are in the care of the EICHHOLTZ DARING & SANFORD FUNERAL HOME in West Liberty and online condolences may be expressed to the family at http://www.edsfh.com