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1943 Allen 2020

Allen Black

July 18, 1943 — February 24, 2020

Allen Wilson "Duke" Black, Jr., 76, of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, passed away on February 24, 2020 in Houston, Texas. Duke served the U.S. Marine Corps from 1960 - 1969 and ended his military career as a Staff Sergeant. After serving in the Marines, he relocated to Houston Texas. Duke previously worked at Watco, Sporting Goods Inc., Hooks Sporting Goods and the Marksman Indoor Shooting Range. He was a gunsmith, ballistics manufacturer, weapons specialist and Master Shooter. Preceded in death by his mother, Virginia R. Black, granddaughter Madalyn Bilyeu, sisters Pammella L. Ahmed and Diane L. Buckingham. Survived by his wife Carolyn Black, sister Patricia (Vincent) Zaleski, daughters Kathy (Mark) Bilyeu, Andrea (Phil) Guerrero, Michele (Joe) Stefanick, son Allen Wilson (Wendy) Black III, nephew Erik John (Cheryl) Hertzog, nieces Pammella L. (Pammy) Ahmed, Sherry Lynn Ribblette and several great nieces and nephews. An Interment Service is scheduled at the Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr. Houston, TX 77038, on Friday, March 20th at 1:30 p.m.

Duke was a lifelong lover of guns, hunting, and making bullets. He enjoyed building muscle cars, car shows, art cars, military history, war movies, action movies, westerns and Cliffhanger. He liked Frankie Valley and the Four Seasons and the Moody Blues, Peanut M&Ms and Pepsi (not Coke). He enjoyed fishing with his wife and friends in Galveston. As a Master Shooter, Duke could split a business card in half with one shot of a bullet. He also trained several security and police force officers in the Houston area. Even after he had several strokes, which left him partially paralyzed, he could still split the business card in one shot. He loved skeet and trap shooting, competitive air pistol shooting and playing softball. He was hired briefly as a bodyguard for Yul Brenner during his stay in Houston. He had an artistic side and made several projects from glass terrariums, to fiber arts such as macramé rope lanyards and hook rugs. He was proud of his German heritage and collected German beer steins. Duke was also proud to be a Marine and was a true testament to the old saying "Once a Marine, always a Marine!" He had a wicked sense of humor and loved a good joke. In his later years, he loved to reminisce about good times.

In leu of those who want .

Service Details.

Interment

March 20, 2020 | 1:30pm VA Houston National Cemete:ry 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr. Houston, TX

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