Virginia Louise Black

Virginia Louise Black 9/25/27 - 2/4/24

Jinny was born in Rocky Ford, Colorado to Custis and Dorothy Green on September 25th, 1927. Custis and Dorothy lived in the cemetery, where he was the caretaker, and she was born in the small dwelling in the cemetery. Custis later became the funeral director and bank president in La Junta, Colorado. Jinny was the last of four children born to Custis and Dorothy and is the last survivor of the Green children - Custis "Custy", Robert, and Ruth (Green) Frye. Jinny grew up in La Junta and attended La Junta Junior College.

In 1947, she married Roy Black, who had recently returned from service in the Army Air Corps as a bomber pilot during World War II. Jinny and Roy lived in several Colorado towns as Roy was transferred by the Mountain Bell Telephone Company to various offices. As Roy and Jinny moved around Colorado, they lived in La Junta, Durango, Fort Collins, Greeley, Littleton, and Pueblo - and eventually returned to Littleton when Roy retired. Jinny and Roy had four children, Michael (deceased), Linda (Black) Stranahan, Dorothy (Black) Plumer, and Diane (Black) Fredregill (deceased). 

After 35 years with Mountain Bell, retirement enabled Jinny and Roy to travel extensively; visiting Spain, China, Russia, Germany, Yugoslavia, and many other destinations, and several trips to Mexico. Jinny was the trip photographer, filling many photo albums with beautiful photos of their adventures.

Jinny was a homemaker, business office manager, and a volunteer at Littleton Adventist Hospital. As a volunteer, she loved to knit stocking caps for the newborn babies in the maternity ward. Hundreds of newborns left the hospital wearing one of Jinny's colorful caps. 

As grandchildren were born into her family, Jinny enjoyed every moment with them. Her grandchildren include Amy Marso, Shanna Gleason, Doug Reilly, Jason Stranahan, Jinny Mudd, Ryan Stranahan, Jake Plumer, Bryson Fredregill, and Austin Fredregill. Jinny also had twelve great-grandchildren - Natalie and Gabriel Mudd, Tessa and Ty Reilly, Zoe and Kael Gleason, Brecken and Brogan Stranahan, Quinn and Hudson Stranahan, and William and John Fredregill.

Jinny cared for her husband, Roy, until his death in 2007. Jinny hosted Christmas gatherings in her home for over 50 years, with family coming together each year to share food and stories, gifts, and laughter. One of the unique features of the Black Family Christmas was the potluck meal "theme" - in which each dish had to comply with the chosen theme for that year - with some years being wild game, some Chinese, some Mexican or Italian, or food made with garlic, etc. The 2023 Christmas theme was picked by Jinny herself and every dish had to be a pie of some sort. The only exception to the food theme was that Jinny made her famous green chili each year, no matter what the theme was.

Gracious, grateful, loving, giving, and ever thoughtful was Jinny Black. She epitomized the family she created and was the perfect example of growing old gracefully. Her spirit is instilled in each of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She is missed by all she befriended and everyone she touched throughout her life.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the charity of your choice.

Celebration of Life Friday, February 16, 2024, 3:00 pm, Horan & McConaty, 3101 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood, CO 80227