Thomas M. Black Jr., age 90 went home to be with the Lord on Monday, December 28, 2020. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, DeLyla, whom he lovingly referred to as Lyla. Together they had 4 children, Dawn (Thomas) Hart, Thomas (Pamela) Black III, Terri (Richard) Carrizales and Julie (Lehman) McFarland. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Thomas and Joel Hart, Nicole Webster, Michael and Nicolas Black, Stacey and Kyle Prince, Richard, Miyajoe and Micah Carrizales, Andrea Ruszala, Alexander McFarland, 14 great-grandchildren, 2 great, great-grandchildren, sister Bessie (Ronald) Byars and a host of nieces and nephews who lovingly referred to him as Uncle Bill. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Pansey Black and sisters Patricia, June, Amanda and Adrel.
Thomas was born in Flint, Michigan on April 20,1930, the son of Thomas and Pansey Black Sr. As a young boy, he had many interests which included, his Lionel train set, building model airplanes and cars and The Boy Scouts of America. Tom also attended church with his family at Glad Tidings Tabernacle. As a teenager, he earned money riding his bicycle delivering telegrams for Western Union. He also loved working on and racing his "hot rods". Tom attended Flint Central High School and in his senior year, he lettered in Track and Field.
Upon graduation at age 17, Tom enlisted in the United States Navy. This was the start of his lifelong service to his country, which he dearly loved. Earning the rank of Able Body Seaman, Tom served on the destroyer, USS Power (DD839) and aircraft carrier, USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB42), also referred to as "Swanky Franky" by the crew. Tom served in the Navy from September 27, 1947 to May 8, 1951. Tom's devotion to his country continued the very next day as he began his service in the United States Army. With the rank of PFC, Tom served from May 9, 1951 to May 8, 1953 as a Paratrooper Instructor at Fort Benning and Camp Chaffee.
Tom's continued devotion to his country led him to enlist in the United States Air Force Reserve on July 10,1954. He was based at Selfridge Air National Guard Base serving in the 927th Tactical Airlift Group and the 440th Tactical Airlift Wing working as Life Support, Air Crew, Load Master, Flight Engineer, Civil Engineer and On Site Supervisor. Tom was also a graduate of the United States Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officers Academy, Class 86-C. He loved serving his country and the opportunities it afforded him such as traveling the United States as well as the world. After 35 years and 8 months of honorable service, Tom retired from the United States Air Force on April 20,1990 with the final rank of Senior Master Sergeant and was presented with The Meritorious Service Medal award. Tom was a true patriot in every sense of the word and even after serving his country for a grand total of 42 years, 6 months and 25 days, various branches of service, a veteran of Korea and Vietnam, he wanted to continue in service and voiced that he wished they would call him during Operation Desert Storm.
1955 was a turning point for Tom when he took a job as a semi truck driver at General Motors Parts Division. It was at this time he returned to his church and soon met the love of his life, DeLyla Arndt. Tom offered to drive DeLyla home from church and later that evening he telephoned her to tell her he was going to marry her. They were married on June 25,1955. Tom loved his wife, his children and the home they created together. He also dearly loved his grandchildren and lit up whenever they came for a visit. Tom was also a devoted member of Faith Tabernacle Church where he and DeLyla attended for more than 30 years. After 35 years of service, Tom retired from General Motors in 1980. Not being a man to slow down, he took various jobs after his retirement such as working at the Flint Police Academy and finally tending the lawn at Faith Tabernacle.
Tom's love for his family, God and country showed in how he lived his life everyday and oh how he loved to tell the stories of his life! Tom was deeply loved and will be sincerely missed by all who knew him. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 11:00am to 1:00pm on Monday, January 4, 2021 at Brown Funeral Home,1480 E. Hill Road, Grand Blanc, Michigan. A private family funeral will follow at 1:00pm with Pastor Bruce Garner officiating. Burial to follow at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Michigan. Those wishing to make memorial contributions may do so to CenterPoint Church (Faith Tabernacle) 1225 S. Center Road, Burton, Michigan 48509.
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