Rodney Black

Rodney James Black passed on from this life on April 9, 2023,at the age of 85. He was born to Jake Edward Black and Vera Maude (Guthrie) Black on February 26, 1938, in Lucien, Oklahoma. He was the fourth of ten children born into his family and often reminisced about growing up with his brothers and sisters on the family dairy farm before moving to Nowata. Rodney graduated from Nowata High School in 1957.

After high school, Rodney spent two years at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M college in Miami, OK. He felt a calling to serve his country and joined the United States Air Force. He was stationed at Dover Delaware from October 1,1962, to January 27, 1965, where he was an inflight boom operator. He returned to the Nowata area to work with his dad doing carpentry work.  Rodney decided to return to college to finish his degree program. He enrolled at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma where he graduated with his bachelor’s degree in education. He then taught school at both Longton Kansas, and Wann Oklahoma. He also was head football coach at Longton, Kansas and served as the head baseball coach at Wann. Rodney married Helen Louise Berry on May 12th, 1960, at the First Church of God in Nowata Oklahoma. To this union was born Rick Lee Black.

Rodney was always proud of his military service. He had many other interests including fishing, duck hunting, and OU football. He also enjoyed gardening and canning the produce from his garden. Later he and his son started raising bottle calves from which today is B & B Cattle Company.  Rodney loved his cows and enjoyed watching his grandchildren being involved in the cattle operation. He had three grandchildren Bailey Black, Drake Black and Weston Wofford. His many woodworking talents and gardening skills will be missed by his siblings, his son and his grandchildren.

Rodney is preceded in death by his parents, Jake and Vera Black, and his brothers Pete, Jerry, John, Dean, Robert along with one sister Linda Black. He is survived by his son; Rick Lee Black with his wife Julie Ann Black and grandchildren Bailey Jewel Black, Drake Warren Black and Weston Bronk Wofford, along with his wife Chola great grandchild Winter Wofford. Other survivors include siblings: Nancy Reeves, Connie Anderson, and Jackie Hathcoat; and numerous nieces and nephews.

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