July 24, 1940 - November 11, 2022
Graveside service for Larry Tom Black Sr. will be Thursday, November 17, 2022 at New Home Cemetery in Nash, Oklahoma at 2:00PM with Chaplain Gary Miller presiding. Services are under the direction of Henninger-Hinson Funeral Home of Enid, Oklahoma.
Larry Tom Black, Sr., age 82, was born July 24, 1940 in Jet, Oklahoma to Arthur Monroe Black and Sylvia Iola Venn Black. He died November 11, 2022 in Wakita, Oklahoma. Larry was born as a Scottish/Irish Protestant. Larry grew up with four other siblings who preceeded him in death: Donald Arthur Black, Floyd Monroe Black, Nora Lee Black-Buchanan, and Davie Dee Black. He also had a sibling named Jaunita May Black of which was the first born of Arthur and Sylvia who died at the age of 3-1/2 in 1932 of scarlet fever.
Larry first lived on a farm in the Jet, Oklahoma area. It was located north of the Great Salt Plains Park. Larry and his four siblings were extremely familiar with the Salt Plains Park. When asking Larry if he ever dug for Salt Crystals his answer was, “I lived in the area. I did everything that you could do at the Salt Plains.” In his early years, he attended Jet, Oklahoma School systems. His family later moved to Wakita, Oklahoma but he attended the Nash School systems in Nash, Oklahoma starting in 1952. He graduated from Wakita High School in 1960.
It was there in Wakita after graduation, Larry began earning his living in farm work on local farms. He did this for about twenty years. In addition to farm work, his work experience included work as a blacksmith, welder, diesel mechanic and as a truck driver. He also was a welding instructor in Cushing, Oklahoma. He lived and worked in various Oklahoma Communities including Nash, Perry, Billings, and Enid. He worked at Sooner Supply in a managerial position.
While working at Big J Trucking Company, he participated in Monster Pull Competitions. It was in preparation of one such competition, he welded together an extra cab onto another truck cab. Shortly after this, more extended cab pickups and trucks began to appear out in the public. It is thought by some that his innovation with the truck cab was the initial inspiration of these future extended cab vehicles.
Larry’s expertise with welding also enabled him to take on a hobby of making welding art objects. His Rocking Horses, (made of horseshoe nails) became so popular that he sold hundreds of them. At one time, he had a collection of his welding art that included Rocking Horses, windmills, grasshoppers, and metal guitar musicians. His other interests included outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing.
Larry was married during his lifetime and was a father and grandfather. He is survived by six children, Larry Tom Black Jr. of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Tammy Louise Messer of Moore, Oklahoma; Janet Nimer of Wyle, Texas; Allen Ray Black of Missouri; John Black of Enid, Oklahoma and Kyle Black of Enid, Oklahoma. He has many grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Larry was also preceeded in death by his parents, Arther and Sylvia Black.
Memorial donations can be made through the funeral home to Wakita Nursing Home Community Health Center.
Obituaries are posted, in part, due to the generosity of The Commons.
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