Eugene J. “Gene” Black of Winton Heights, Archbald died Sunday at the Allied Hospice Center following a valiant battle with COVID-19. His wife of 60 years is the former Janice Caines.
Born in Blount Springs, Alabama, he was the son of the late Homer and Mabel Ford Black. He graduated from Hanceville High School (Alabama) in 1957 and then joined the United States Army where he proudly served for 2 years. He met his bride on a blind date in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Their first official date was at Mt. Vernon, Virginia. They were married in St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Winton on May 14, 1960. They settled in Bloomfield, New Jersey and had 3 children. Gene worked in public service in Newark, New Jersey and upon moving to Pennsylvania he was employed by Brojack Lumber Co., Casket Shells, Inc., and retired from the Tobyhanna Army Depot in 2009. Gene loved and enjoyed his family immensely. He was an avid Alabama Crimson Tide fan (Roll Tide!), and a fan of his children and grandchildren in all of their pursuits. During his 60 years of marriage, he and his wife visited all 50 states. Gene insisted on driving to 49 of those states but he was forced to fly to Hawaii. Gene hated to fly.
Gene was a member of the Jessup VFW Post #5544 and the Archbald American Legion Post #328, as well as an active member of St. James-St. George Episcopal Church in Jermyn. He served on the Church Vestry and as the Church’s Junior Warden and Property Manager for many years.
Gene’s family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the nurses, doctors, physician assistants, and staff of Regional Hospital of Scranton’s ER, 9th Floor, and 7th Floor COVID Unit who served as their eyes and ears these past two weeks, and special thanks to Sarah at the front desk. Our gratitude to the “angels of mercy” at the Allied Hospice Center, especially Maria and Carol, for their compassionate care of Gene and his family.
Surviving are daughter Joyce and husband Richard Covaleski, Peckville; son David, Archbald; and Larry and wife Amy, Mt. Cobb; granddaughters Karley Black; Riley, Alexandra, and Anya Covaleski; his brother Hugo Black and wife Diane, Arizona; and numerous nieces and nephews. A special thank you and love to all of our family and friends for their many prayers and tremendous support.
Gene was preceded in death by his grandsons Kyle and Cody Black; siblings Lorene Yeager, Glenndale Black, Mavis Black, and James Curtis “Curt” Black; parents Mabel Black Long and Homer Black; and grandparents Callie Mae Starkey and Walter Black.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 12 Noon in the Arthur A. Albini Funeral Home, 1003 Church St., Jessup with Rev. Brian Pavlac, Pastor of St. James-St. George Episcopal Church as celebrant. Friends and family may pay their respects Wednesday morning from 10 am until service time. Interment with Military Honors will follow in Valley View Memorial Park, Scott Twp. Capacity limits and social distancing guidelines will be observed and masks will be required. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. James-St. George Episcopal Church 398 Washington Ave, Jermyn, PA 18433 or to the Janet Weis Children's Hospital 100 N Academy Ave, Danville, PA 17822.