The Delaware community lost a man of the highest integrity and fairness early Saturday morning, Melvin D Black, age 75 passed away surrounded in the love of his family at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati.  He was born on October 7, 1941, into a world that was at war, but he came home to a family that showed him the value of having one another.  His parents were the late Paul and Norma (Pendergast); Melvin was one of 14 children born to this marriage.  In his early childhood, he grew up on the family farm near Rexville, but upon the passing of his father the family moved to Osgood.

     Melvin first started school in Versailles, but when the family moved to Osgood, he became a proud Osgood Cowboy.  It could be said he was one of the last Cowboys to stand, as he graduated in the class of 1960 that being the last class before the Jac-Cen-Del School began.  He enjoyed school and liked to play basketball, earning his letterman jacket.  Who would have ever thought that Melvin’s jacket is seen by numerous people every year, as it is on display at the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in New Castle.

     After high school he entered the work force, first working for Gilmore and Goldie Reynolds in the gas business.  He also enjoyed being part of the former “Teen Club” in Osgood; this led to him being asked to go to a church hay ride.  This hay ride would take him on a wonderful adventure for the rest of his life, you see Mary Lee (Schutte) was the lady doing the asking, and the two were united in marriage on August 10, of 1962. They have been married for almost 55 years, and were blessed with 5 children.  Shortly after marriage, the Reynolds sold the gas business to Empire Gas, so the couple moved to Columbus, Indiana for a couple years before returning back to their local roots and opening Service Central in Versailles, which provided sales and service on various appliances and TVs.  Melvin then found his true calling though, helping customers get into an automobile.  He made car selling classy, never pushing you, and always honoring what he would say.  For 30 plus years he sold cars throughout the area.

     He had recently joined the local Historical Society, and was looking forward to helping.  He had previously attended Delaware United Methodist Church for years.  He was prior member of the Jac-Cen-Del School Board, Osgood Library Board, and former member of the Osgood Fire Department.

     He is survived by wife Mary Lee of Osgood, sons Jeff (Christy) of Lawrenceburg and Jason (fiancé Elma) of Indianapolis, daughters Tena (Mouse) Vankirk of Napoleon and Vickie (Scott) Smith of Batesville, grandchildren Kelly and Bailey Black, Trent Smith, and Heather (Steve) Huff, and 2 great grandchildren, sisters Emma Lee Beagle of Carmel, Shirla Jones of Napoleon, Joyce Demetriades of Fort Wayne: Geneva Kennedy of Versailles and mother-in-law Lettie Schutte of Milan, also survives.  He was preceded in death by daughter Teresa Lynn, along with brothers Roy, William, Paul, Wayne, Kenny, and Sisters Berta Jean, Mary and Wilma.

     Visitation will be held on Wednesday June 28 from 3:00-7:00 pm. at Neal’s Funeral Home in Osgood, and Funeral services will also be at the funeral home on Thursday June 29 at 10:00 am., with doors opening at 9:00 am.  Memorials may be made out to Mud Pike Cemetery or American Heart Association in care of the funeral home.

 Service Information