Josephine V. Black, 90, of Tryon Estates and Lake Lanier passed away on Sept. 30 in the Tryon Estates Medical Center.
She was born in Parsons, Kan. and was the daughter of the late Nelson E. Van Dyne and Josephine Burr Van Dyne. Jo, as she was lovingly known, was a member of the Congregational Church in Tryon, where she was a member of the Women’s Fellowship Group and a church volunteer. She was a member of the Carolines singing group for 21 years, also a member of the Community Chorus, past officer of the Lake Lanier Civic Association and active member of the Rotary (Anns) Spouses.
Jo retired in 1983 from The Travelers Insurance Company in San Diego, Calif. after 25-plus years of service. She moved to Tryon that year upon her marriage to James R. Black Jr.
Among her special loves were her cat, Jennifer, her 1968 White Mustang which she drove cross country in 1983 and her life on Lake Lanier, where she was frequently seen driving her pontoon boat and swimming the channel with many friends.
Jo was predeceased by two brothers, Alfred and Howard Van Dyne; a sister, Doris Purdy; her second husband, James R. Black Jr.; a son, Robert Michael Lauer, and her first husband, Robert Manning Lauer.
Survivors include a daughter, Victoria Ann Peterson and husband John of Rancho Mirage, Calif.; a step-daughter, Borden Black McGahee and husband Nelson of Columbus, Ga.; a sister, Inez Rouch of Baltimore, Md.; a sister-in-law, Barbara Bailey of Banning, Calif.; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren from California, Washington, Oregon, St. John Virgin Islands, Virginia and Florida; numerous nieces and nephews; special companion Leon Detwiler of Tryon Estates, and special friends Lynne Paff and Jim and Susan Bickelhaupt of Landrum.
A memorial service to celebrate Jo’s life will be held at the Congregational Church in Tryon on Nov. 1 at 2 p.m., with the Reverend Bob Barrows officiating. Her ashes will be interred at the memorial garden at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Congregational Church C. E. Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 1367, Tryon, N.C. 28782.