Joseph W Black Jr.

Joseph Wade Black Jr., 66, passed away peacefully in his Nichols Hills home on December 1st, 2012. Joe was born in Oklahoma City on November 21st, 1946. He had fond memories of his childhood in Oklahoma and Texas and in 1965 graduated from Memorial High School in Houston, Texas. He continued his education at Oklahoma City University from which he graduated in 1970. At OCU, he played trumpet in the Jazz Ensemble and was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, where he made many life-long friends. During these college years, Joe served in the US Army National Guard and it was soon after that he developed an enduring keenness for sales while traveling door-to-door selling pots and pans. Such was his commitment to his craft that he even mounted a frying pan as a hood ornament on his car. He advanced his career with the ownership and operation of Midwest Jewelry and then The Recognition Company. Joe’s enthusiasm for business was only surpassed by his profound love for his family; his wife Polly Black and daughters Jennifer Black Akin and Becky Black. Of particular joy in his later years were his granddaughters Emery Akin and Marie Maxey. Joe is well known for his humor, charm, warmth and boundless conversation. Joe never met a stranger and eagerly made friends wherever he went. He took great comfort in his faith and regularly attended services at Westminster Presbyterian. Joe Black was a consummate gentleman and a wonderful person who will be missed tremendously. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph W. Black Sr. and Gloria Black. and his brother Albert Black. He is survived by his wife, Polly Black; his two daughters, Jennifer Black Akin and husband Shawn Akin; and Becky Black and partner Cori Black; his step-son, Adam Maxey and wife Jenny Maxey, granddaughters Emery Akin and Marie Maxey; two sisters, Brenda Hensley and her family and Sandra Black as well as several nephews and their families. Visitation will be held at the Hahn-Cook Funeral home at 6600 Broadway Extension in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, December 5th from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. A memorial service will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church at 4400 N. Shartel in Oklahoma City on Thursday, December 6th at 1:00 p.m.