Vida Ruth Black

Vida Ruth Black, 86, long-time and well-known resident of Ballinger passed away Sunday, September 26 at Shannon Medical Center in San Angelo.

She was born April 12, 1924 in Ballinger to Roy and Flora (Compton) Holdstead. She and Ross Black, Jr. were married November 13, 1943 in Shawnee, Oklahoma, beginning a life of devotion to each other and working together for almost 67 years.

Vida worked at Keel Drug Store until 1967 when the family purchased Black’s Department Store. She helped manage the Black’s store and worked alongside her husband until retirement in 1989. She was an active, faithful member of the First Christian Church and was a member of the church’s Christian Women’s Association. She will be remembered and missed by her family, her church family, the business community, and countless friends and acquaintances all of whom appreciated her energy and pleasantness.

She was preceded in death by her parents and by a son, Mike Black in March, 1991.

Vida is survived by her loving husband, Ross Black, Jr. of Ballinger; brothers-in-law, Jimmy Black of Winters, and Bobby Black of Ballinger; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation for family and friends will be Tuesday, September 28 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Lange Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, September 29 at 10:00 a.m. at the First Christian Church with Lynn Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Ballinger Evergreen Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Wayne Johnson, Dwayne Schaefer, Bobby Jones, Merle Cahoon, Milton McMillan, and Clarence Hallmark. Honorary pallbearers will be the coffee shop group at Beef Master Steakhouse with special thanks to the girls who served them each morning.

Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church, P. O. Box 553, Ballinger, Texas 76821 or to a favorite charity.