Frank Houston Black

Frank Houston Black went to be with the Lord Jesus Christ and be reunited with his wife and loved ones on Wednesday, Jan 9, 2019 at 4pm, ET.  He passed peacefully at home, 2 hours after his pastor played the guitar and sang him songs.  
 

Born in San Antonio, TX, he moved to Atlanta where he grew up in the Virginia-Highland area. He had the quintessential 50s teenage years and regaled his family with stories of his life growing up, that his kids still love to tell today.  
 

He had a long career as a Civil Engineer in Atlanta, with the Georgia Department of Transportation.  He loved working with young people and trained many a Georgia Tech co-op student or new-hire.  He was most noted as a bridge expert and did all work on I-85, I-285 and I-75, including the I-85/I-285 interchange, affectionately known as “spaghetti junction”.  He transferred his last 5 years of his career to his hometown in Gainesville, GA to build the new Dawsonville Bridge on Highway 53, before retiring at only 55 years of age.  From then on, he and his wife spent time traveling, playing golf, swimming and enjoying adventures.  
 

He had an incredible dry-witted sense of humor that put everyone at ease when around him. He was the ultimate do-it-yourselfer.  At 6’2”, men always described him as a “man’s man” with intelligence, charm and humor.  He designed and built his family’s home on Lake Lanier in Gainesville, GA starting in 1970.  It was a labor of love he worked on for 20 years - hand-laying 100 pound granite stones into a walkway around the front and side, building a bridge to span an old logging road and then laying brick down to the dock.  With all that, he still managed to be very active in his church (serving as President of the Men’s Club and an Elder) and help support his wife and her volunteer activities with battered women and children, as well as the various food banks. 
 

His family will forever miss his hilarious way of describing something with two well-chosen contradictory words, his sarcasm, his smile and his laughter.   He loved and adored his wife, Eve Black who passed before him. 
 

As a former Army Veteran, Patriot lover of this great country and it's history, he will be honored.  His casket, like his wife’s, is modern and hand-crafted from reclaimed barn-wood.  
 

He is preceded by his wife Eve Wilson Black of Gainesville, GA.  He is survived by his son, Russell Black (Rhonda) of Palmer, AK; daughters Cathy Black Roberts of Savannah, GA and Jamie Black of Dawsonville, GA; Step-children Robin Montgomery (Frank) of Panama City, FL and Richard Gibson of Sturgis, ND.  Grandchildren Stephanie Roberts Payton and Allen Roberts of Georgia; Great Granddaughter Caroline Payton of Georgia.  Brother and sister-in-law Bill and Mary Ann Black of Chatsworth, GA and his nephews and nieces and their children Clint (Paige) Black, Cindy (Brian) Chastain and David (Jayne) Black. 

The family will accept visitors at Little-Davenport Funeral Home Gainesville, Ga on Monday, Jan, 14, 2019 between 10am-12pm, ET.  Service to follow at 12pm at Little-Davenport Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Clint Black will officiate.  Interment at Hopewell United Methodist Church to immediately follow (Approximately 1:00pm) with Rev. Tony Kemp officiating.  They also encourage giving to others, in lieu of flowers.   The family would like to let everyone know, their will be refreshments served after the graveside service.

Those wishing to send online condolences to the family may do so at littledavenport.com

Little & Davenport Funeral Home and Crematory of Gainesville is in charge of arrangements.