Black, William T. Jr.

Description

William Traverse Black

William “Traverse” Black was born on November 21, 1917, in Davenport City, Iowa, to Gertrude Josephine Zirkel, age 21, and William Travers Black, age 20. He had four brothers and three sisters.

The family moved to Rye in 1928. and lived at 396 Midland Avenue and were members of the Church of the Resurrection. William was a Rye High School Graduate, Class of 1936. In High School he played football and was a member of the National Honor Society.

Traverse enlisted in 1945 and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. His brother Thomas Maynard Black was killed in action at Iwo Jima.

He married Constance Lillian DNapoli on May 24, 1941. They had four children during their marriage.

Traverse and family were longtime resident of the Hartford Conn area. He worked for many years for Southern New England Telephone Co and retired in 1984. He was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America.

William Traverse Black died on December 22, 1996, in North Waterboro, Maine, at the age of 79.

At the time of his death he was survived by his wife Constance Lillian Black (Concettina Elina DiNapoli), sons Ronald M. (Dianne) Black , of Houlton, Maine, William V. (Gerry) Black of Marlborough, Connecticut; daughters, Sandra C. (Basil) Bocynesky of Sun Lakes, Arizona, and Elaine (David) Mendelin of Calumet, Michigan; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Three brothers Vincent of California, James of Arkansas and John of Florida, three sisters Marion Fredricks of Melbourne Fla, Carol Maragnano of Hartford Conn and Barbara McConnville of Manchester’ Conn. A brother Charles of Rye, NY predeceased him.