Lawrence Aaron Black, 95, of Oakland City, died at 9:50 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 28, 2004 at his home. He was born near the Claybank community, in Pike County, on July 13, 1909. 

He graduated from Oakland City High School in 1927 and attended Lockyear's Business College, Indiana University and Oakland City College. He received an honorary doctor of humanities degree in 1991 from Oakland City University. 

He married Mary Alice Penner on Aug. 31, 1932, in Paris, Ill. They lived all of their married lives in and near Oakland City. They celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary this past August and she preceded him in death nine days earlier on Nov. 19, 2004. 

Mr. Black was stationed at Fort Knox, Ky., while serving in the U.S. Army from 1945-46. Together Mr. and Mrs. Black owned and managed Black's Department Store, on Main Street in Oakland City, until 1958 when Mr. Black started farming full-time. Mr. Black retired from farming in 1983. 

Mr. Black was an active member of the First General Baptist Church of Oakland City since 1932. He served as deacon, Sunday school teacher and Sunday school superintendent. He also helped with many of the church's building projects and served on many boards, and committees for the local church, and the General Association of General Baptists. 

Mr. Black served on the East Gibson School Board from 1981-88. He also served on the Columbia Township Advisory Board and the General Baptist Nursing Home Board. He was a member of the Farm Bureau and the Oakland City Kiwanis Club. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Chapman Seminary at Oakland City University, in memory of for former pastor and college president, Onis G. Chapman and his wife. 

Besides his wife he was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Eliza Black; two sisters, Minnie Corne and Dora Dyer; and two brothers, Ronald and Harry Black. 

He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Jerry Phillips, of Oakland City; two granddaughters and their husbands, Robin and Roger Sermersheim, of Oakland City, and Barbara and Scott Watson, of Evansville; six great-grandchildren, Ryan, Regan and Randa Sermersheim, and Nathan, Abigail and Isaac Watson; and a sister-in-law, Sadie Black, of Oakland City. Deep appreciation is expressed by the family to special caregivers Dottie Anderson, Brenda Koelling, Charlotte Riddle, Bettye Benjamin, Sue Horrell, Ruth Nimal and Bobbie Kell. 

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at the First General Baptist Church, in Oakland City, with burial in Montgomery Cemetery. Dr. Rodney Walls will officiate.

Friends may visit with the family from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30 at Corn-Colvin Funeral Home and from 8 a.m. until service time at the church Wednesday.