Jane Lorraine Black

Jane Lorraine Althaus was born in Houston, Texas, at St. Josephs Infirmary, to George and Gladys Althaus on September 23, 1925. The family resided in Houston Heights and Jane was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Houston, at the age of 5 weeks.

In 1939, at age 14 Jane joined the Cocker Spaniel Club and participated in AKC dog shows, winning several ribbons with her dog, Shing. That same year her mother and daddy bought a two-acre farm in the country (Spring Branch), off Wirt Rd. in Houston, which they named “Hickory Shadows” after the large hickory trees. She enjoyed riding her horse “Buddy,” through the pastures adjacent to the property that eventually became Interstate 10.

Jane’s school years began at Trinity Lutheran Parochial School for grades K through 7 and Confirmation. She went to Hogg Junior High School for her 8th grade year, and to Reagan High School for grades 9 through 11, graduating on June 4, 1942. She was a member of the Reagan Redcoats Drum and Bugle Core as a bugler and flag twirler. A friend of Jane’s introduced her to Clarence Black, who played football for Addicks High School. Clarence joined the US Marines following high school graduation. Shortly thereafter, she and Clarence married on December 30, 1942, because Clarence received orders that he was to ship out to the South Pacific the following day. They were married for almost 50 years until Clarence’s death on July 14, 1992.

Jane was an only child for 16 years until her little sister Laura Lynn “Tuggie” Althaus was born in July 1942. Despite their age gap, they were always best friends.

Jane worked for the Home Insurance Company during a two-month visit to her aunt and uncle’s home in Marion, Pennsylvania. Upon returning to Houston, she resumed her job at the Home Insurance Company’s Houston office located in the Cotton Exchange Building. She worked there for the next three years until Clarence came home from the war. In 1946, Jane went to work at Texas Optical, for her uncle, Dr. Vernon Duerer, an optometrist. She worked there until her first son George was born on January 1, 1947. For the next twenty years, Jane was a devoted wife and mother to their four children, George, Carol, Lynn and Larry. She eventually returned to work outside her home when her two younger children were 7 and 5 years old. She worked in accounting as a billing clerk for FMC Corporation and EFCO Corporation before retiring. Jane came out of retirement at age 71 to work as a file clerk and receptionist in her son-in-law, Greg’s law office. She enjoyed the office work and even mastered the desktop computer and was a good sport about adjusting to constant software and hardware updates. Jane was a woman of great faith and love for Jesus Christ and always centered her life around her church and her family. She had a zest for life and was always the happiest while surrounded by her family, including her beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Lexi. She would drop everything at a moment’s notice whenever invited to do anything with a family member.

Jane is survived by her daughter Carol Gould and son-in-law Don Gould Jr., daughter Lynn Goodrum and son-in-law Greg Goodrum, son Larry Black and daughter-in-law Shelly Black. Sister Tuggie Arnold and nephew, Ray Arnold. Grandchildren, Kimberly Gunter and husband Steve Gunter, Lori Becker, Jason Gould and wife Kimberly Gould, Kelly Alderman and husband Cameron Alderman, Kyle Black and wife Megan Black, Gretchen Goodrum, Caitlyn Goodrum, Kevin Black and wife Monica Black. Great-Grandchildren, Dustin Gunter, Kendra Gunter, Amanda Holmes, Mallory Holmes, Nathan Gould, Robby Becker, Kaden Gould, Hailey White, Micah Black, and numerous other nieces, nephews and cousins.

She is preceded in death by her parents, George and Gladys Althaus, husband Clarence Black, son George Black and daughter-in-law Shela Black.

Jane was a founding member of St. Andrew Lutheran Church and served in many different capacities through the years. She taught Sunday School to three- and four-year-olds. She played the role of Mary Magdalene in the church’s annual Easter Pageant, served on the Alter Guild and designed tables for the annual Advent by Candlelight. She was a talented seamstress and enjoyed making dresses for her two girls when they were young. Jane was also an avid gardener. She loved flowers and spent many hours of enjoyment working in her yard.

Jane passed away at the age of 99. Throughout those 99 years, she kept a calm and optimistic spirit, even through adversity. Her family was everything to her. She will be missed but she lives on through her family here today. She will always remain in our hearts and in our memories.