Thomas H. Black, Jr.November 10, 1925 - April 9, 2017MartinsburgThomas H. Black Jr., 91, formerly of Saxton, passed away on Sunday, April 9, 2017, at Homewood at Martinsburg. He was born on November 10, 1925 in Broad Top City, PA, son of the late Thomas H. Sr. and Elsie (Ashton) Black. On February 11, 1949 in Asbury Methodist Church, Uniontown, he married Elizabeth L. Snyder who preceded him in death on December 20, 2006. He is survived by three children, David J. Black, married to Jeanie (Chovanes), Chambersburg, Janice E., married to Thomas Stoudnour Saxton, and Thomas H. Black III, Hobe Sound, FL. He was truly blessed with seven grandchildren, Dr. Christina M. Black and husband, Matthew McBride, Michael D. Black and wife, Lauren, Melissa J. Black, Mathew L. Stoudnour and wife, Katherine, Erin E. Parrish and husband, Jason, Andrew T. Stoudnour and wife, Morgan, and guardian grandchild, Jordan Powers; as well as seven great-grandchildren. Preceding him in death were the following brothers and sisters, Helena, Valesta, Ramona, Katheryne, Horace, Lorraine, and Kermit. Tom was a true born and raised Broad Topper who loved his community. He started his educational career at Broad Top City Elementary continuing to Robertsdale High School where he played the trumpet in the band as well as football. Prior to graduating from Robertsdale High, he joined the U. S. Army Air Corps in 1943 serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps Band playing for USO Shows and entertaining the troops. He was in France though 1946 when he was honorably discharged in April 1946. Through this experience, he became an accomplished trumpeter who continued to serve his fellow veterans by playing taps for over 50 years as part of the Broad Top Area Honor Guard. After returning home from the war, he completed his BS Degree in Industrial Education at California State Teachers College and later received his Masters Degree in Education from Penn State University. During this time, he taught Industrial Education in the Bridgeville Area School District, the Bedford Area School District, Tussey Mountain High School and Robertsdale High School where he initiated the Industrial Arts Program. While working on his Doctoral Degree at Penn State University, he was employed by the Pennsylvania Dept. of Education as a State Vocational Education Advisor working in Central and Western Pennsylvania until his retirement. Tom was a man with a quick wit and fun-loving personality. Besides being an accomplished teacher, carpenter, cabinet-maker and musician, his true life-long passion was flying. As many in Broad Top City can attest, when Tom was in the air, he was entertaining the community in his Cessna 150 Aerobat - Barnstormerperforming various aerobatics. A memorial service will be held at 2 PM Friday, April 14, 2017 at the Saxton United Methodist Church, 901 Church St., Saxton, with The Rev. Dr. Ken Grundon and Pastor Jill Clawson officiating. Family and friends may be received from 10 AM to Noon and from 1 PM until the hour of service at the church. Burial will be held at the Broad Top City I.O.O.F Cemetery, Broad Top City, with full military honors conducted by the Broad Top Area Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made in memory of Thomas H. Black Jr. to the Tussey Mountain School District Education Foundation, Attn: Emily Mervin, 199 Front Street, Saxton, PA 16678.Arrangements by Akers Funeral Chapel, 715 Church St., Saxton. Online condolences may be expressed at www.akers-funeralchapel.com