Gertrude Black

BLACK, WAGNER, WESTBROOK, GRIFFIN, SCHROEDER, BALL

Posted By: Judy Kelley (volunteer) (email)
Date: 5/25/2009 at 11:16:38

Columbus Gazette, January 21, 1988

Mrs. Gertrude Black, 90, 209 High Street, Nichols, died Thursday, January 14, 1988, at Mercy Hospital, Iowa City.

Services were Monday, January 18, at the Nichols Christian Church. Rev. Richard Corwin officiated. Burial was in the Letts Cemetery.

Ralph J. Wittich Funeral Home, Muscatine, was in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Nichols Christian Church.

The former Gertrude Westbrook was born September 4, 1897, in Muscatine County, a daughter of Hector and Kathrine Wagner Westbrook. She first married Ralph H. Griffin in 1924, and he died in 1952. Her second marriage was to Arthur J. Black, August 7, 1955, in Albuquerque.

She was a member of the Nichols Christian Church, past worthy matron of the Order of Eastern Star, past worthy high priestess of the Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem. Also a past royal matron of the Order of Amaranth, deputy supreme royal matron of the supreme council of the Amaranth Incorporated, past noble grand of the Rebekah of Iowa, past president of the Patriarch Militant, past chief matriarch of the Independent Order of the Odd Fellows Auxillary of Iowa.

She was representative from Iowa to Michigan of the Amaranth, state lecturer of the Iowa State Grange, a member of the Daughters of the Nile, a plus-60-year member of the Eastern Star, White Shrine and Rebekah. She was a charter member of the Muscatine Amaranth.

She and her hsuband, Art, farmed in Muscatine County, lived in Letts and later bought a farm at Nichols and upon retirement moved to Nichols.

Survivors include her husband, Arthur J.; two stepdaughters, Betty Shroeder, Muscatine; and Donna Ball, Nichols; and three stepgrandchildren.

In addition to her first husband, she was also preceded in death by two sisters, one brother, and one stepgrandson.