Donald Gilbert Black was born to Farrell and Irene (O’Brien) Black on October 12, 1936, in Cheney. He was a 1954 graduate of Cheney High School.

He is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Delores Eileen (Kerr) Black; sons, Casey (Katrina) Black, and Bronc (Tammy) Black; daughter Tammy (Steve) Goebel; six grandkids, Cassidy Black, Jorian Wilking, Brandi (Lucas) Schroeder, Paige (Drew) Berry, Payton (Garrison) Lorenz, and Cale (Taylor Kidd) Goebel; eight great-grandkids; six sisters, Jeanne Bolinger, Virginia Hosey, Barbara Gregory, Patsy Rosenhagen, Sheryl (Larry) Bowser, and Sue Alloway; and brother, David Black.

Don is preceded in death by his parents, Farrell and Irene; brother, Darrell Black; sister, Evelyn Dewey; and great-grandaughter, Emmalyne.

He held several different jobs, including custom harvesting, roughneck in the oil field, and with Boeing Airplane Company. He started with the Sedgwick County Fire Department in 1962, where he retired after 30 years of service. Within that time frame, he also was a farmer, rancher, and horse trainer, among many other jobs.

He was a member of several Appaloosa, thoroughbred, and quarter horse associations.

A visitation with family present will held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 15, at Wulf-Ast Mortuary in Garden Plain. A western celebration will be at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 16, at Trinity United Christian Church in Cheney.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity United Christian Church, P.O. Box F, Cheney, KS 67025; Golden Age Home, P.O. Box 370, Cheney, KS 67025; or the Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund (PDJF), P.O. Box 910864, Lexington, KY 40591.