Charles Baskin Black

Charles Baskin Black, 93, went home to be with his Savior Jesus on November 12, 2016. He was born in Milton, Tennessee on December 1, 1922. Charles married Annelle Baxter Black on December 21, 1946. Her name was the same as his because she was adopted by his aunt and uncle due to the loss of her mother who died when she was four. They moved to Carlsbad, New Mexico in 1951 due to Annelle's asthma and lived there until 2012 when they moved to Midland to be near their daughter, Celia Page. Charles had a strong relationship with the Lord and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Carlsbad for the 61 years they lived there. He was ordained as elder on January 6, 1963. He was a kind, caring person and a good husband and father. Charles served his country in World War II by serving in the Army Air Forces. He was the flight engineer on a B-24 airplane and flew 51 bombing missions over Germany. His early bombing missions were high risk flights flown under the radar to surprise the enemy and hit the atomic bomb factories. Many planes were lost on those missions. Other targets were the fuel supplies, the destruction of which helped win the war. On one of the missions, the plane was shot up so badly they weren't sure they could get back to the coast to land. Charles fused fuel lines with fuel spewing over everyone. One spark would have blown them up. Due to his engineering expertise with the plane, they were able to get back to the coast and land safely. At future reunions, his crew was still hugging him and thanking him for saving their lives by not landing in the ocean. The plane was ditched and they received a new plane shortly thereafter. Charles retired at 62 after working for the Potash Company of America for 36 years. They acquired a motor home and traveled the western United States for 25 years. Their favorite place to go in the summer was Colorado where it was cooler weather. They made friends that they met there each year. They also traveled up the west coast and liked to fish everywhere they stopped. After 25 years, Charles decided it was time to retire from travelling in the motor home and stayed at home in Carlsbad. Charles was survived by his only daughter, Celia Page and husband, Bobby; granddaughter, Dianne Childers and husband, Shaun; and six great-grandsons, all of Midland, Texas; and nieces and nephews living in Tennessee, West Virginia, Alabama, Virginia, Minnesota, and California. He was preceded in death by his wife, Annelle Baxter Black; parents, Bentley and Irene Black of Milton, Tennessee; brother, William Black; sister, Carmine McAdoo; sister, Ruth Odom; and nephew, Marshall Bentley Odom. Funeral services and burial will be at a later date in the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia in honor of his service in World War II. His wife, Annelle will be buried there with him at that time. Instead of flowers, donations can be made to Home Hospice, 200 W. Illinois, Suite 190, Midland, Texas 79701, www.homehospicewtx.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com.