Helen Black

Helen Black, 92, of Mt. Pleasant, IA, died Monday, May 12, 2008, at Pleasant Manor Care Center in Mt. Pleasant. Funeral services will be held Friday, May 16, 2008, at 2:00 p.m. at the Olson - Powell Memorial Chapel. The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the funeral service, beginning at 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Memorial Chapel. Burial will be in the Trinity Cemetery in Mt. Union. Memorials have been established to the Henry County Cancer Fund and the First United Methodist Church. Born November 17, 1915, in Mt. Union, IA, Helen was the daughter of Howard and Clara Routh Snyder. She grew up in the Mt. Union area and graduated from Mt. Union High School. On December 12, 1945, Helen married Carl R. Black in Fairfield, IA. After their marriage the couple lived in the Fairfield and Libertyville areas. Carl preceded her in death in 1984. Helen then moved to Mt. Pleasant where she has resided since. Helen was a homemaker and was devoted to her family. She raised a large vegetable garden and did a lot of canning. She enjoyed growing indoor and outdoor plants and flowers. Helen had a special gift of decorating her home. She loved sewing clothes for her children, quilting, crocheting and enjoyed making crafts. After her children were older, Helen worked at the Glove Factory in Fairfield. Helen was a member of the Libertyville Methodist Church and the First United Methodist Church in Mt. Pleasant. She was active in United Methodist Women and also volunteered with Henry County RSVP. She especially loved spending time with her family. Survivors include two sons, Frank (Amy) Black of Savannah, GA, and Paul Black of Des Moines, IA, and one son-in-law, Dale Campbell of Mt. Pleasant, IA. Also surviving are five grandchildren, Dan (Brooke) Campbell of Des Moines, IA, Cindy (Brian) Smith of Mt. Pleasant, IA, Brenda (Mike) Sporkman of West Point, IA, Kelly Berger of Jacksonville, FL, and Jonathan (Danielle) Black of Fleming, GA; and ten great-grandchildren, Brianne Linkin, Allison and Bradley Sporkman, Justin, Cody and Austin Smith, Zachary and Joshua Berger, and Madison and Colin Black. Along with her husband, Carl, Helen was preceded in death by her parents, one daughter, Carla Campbell, two brothers, Hugh and Vivan Snyder, one sister, Maxine Allen, and one half sister, Vera Van Vranken.