Rufus King Black Jr. was born to Rufus King Black and Emma Elizabeth Lawhorn Black, in Sage, Arkansas in 1924

As a boy, RK had an entrepreneurial spirit, he would sit and think of ways to make money so he could help his family and contribute to the household. At the age of seven he began pulling a red wagon behind him and walk several miles to find work. He would do odd jobs for the local farmers and they would pay him in produce or eggs. One day as RK was at a farm and noticed a sick lamb, the farmer, thinking the animal was going to die, decided to give the lamb to RK for free. RK eagerly took the lamb back home and nursed it back to health.

Then one afternoon a plan came to mind, he would take the lamb to the county fair, sell it and give the money to his Mom. With his Mom's help, that's exactly what he did. At the age of sixteen RK was an entrepreneur raising pigs and lambs and selling them at county fairs for a hefty profit.

While RK was making money selling his livestock, there were many more animals that he personally nursed back health and didn't have the heart to sell. He began combing the county for animals that needed food or medical attention, adopting many homeless pets. Needless to say, the Black Farm was always full of life! It wasn't long until word spread throughout town about how much RK knew about livestock, he was then asked to be a judge at the county fair at the age of seventeen.

At the age of eighteen RK finished school and decided to join the army. In 1946 during World War II, he had completed basic training, and was stationed in Japan. In 1947 RK was put in charge of the Army Transportation Facility in Hiroshima. He was awarded the World War II Occupational Service Medal and the World War II Wartime Service Medal with the Ribbon of Freedom.

After the war was over, RK returned home and followed his cousin to Washington State. He immediately found work transporting fruit to different locations in the Wenatchee area. While driving the route between Wenatchee and Orondo, RK met Marjorie Pratt working at her fathers fruit stand. It was love at first site and RK would make a point of stopping by just to say hello, before they knew it they were married.

RK purchased a home in Wenatchee and worked for Alcoa as a crane operator, but later left Alcoa to pursue a career in Agriculture. He became the manager of a 320 acre orchard past the town of Orondo. He loved being a Orchardist and enjoyed every minute of the hard work it took to be successful. RK always enjoyed any conversation about planting, growing and harvesting the fruit trees in his care!

Upon retiring RK moved to East Wenatchee where he lived for many years then later Olympia, Wa to be near his family.

RK was a man with a kind and gracious heart. A man of integrity who believed a firm handshake and a nod of the head was better than any written word. His gentle and contagious laugh when combined with his charming and charismatic personality, would capture a single moment and make it last a lifetime. His presence added a quality of life to those he encountered and left distinct footprints on all roads he traveled.

He was always more than Father or Grandfather, he was that warm safe place to run when you've had a bad day, the one true source of unconditional love, our protector, our favorite playmate, the pillar of wisdom, strength and the shoulder to cry on...

...our best friend.

Rufus King Black Jr.   09/27/1924-02/06/2015