W. Ralph Black

W. Ralph Black, 92 of Jamestown Rd., Morganton, NC died Sunday, April 3, 2011 at his home. Born May 7, 1918 in Burke County, NC, he was a son of the late William and Annie White Black. He was a World War II U.S. Army veteran. Ralph was an accomplished vegetable gardener and loved cars and traveling. He was a member of Gibbs Chapel Wesleyan Church. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Ellen Messer Black; an infant daughter; and brothers, Harold and Paul Black.Surviving are his wife of sixty-three years, Estelle Guigou Black; and sisters, Ruby Graybeal of Morganton and Lenora Ann Cornelius of Birmingham, AL.The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at Gibbs Chapel Wesleyan Church with the Reverend Roger Brackett officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with military honors by the N.C. National Guard. The family will receive friends at the church for one hour before the service and at other times at the Black home. Memorial gifts may be made to Palliative Care Center and Hospice of Catawba County, 3975 Robinson Rd., Newton, NC 28658 or to Gibbs Chapel Wesleyan Church, 1741 Jamestown Rd., Morganton, NC 28655.