19 Oct 1963: Robert Curry Black, 61, prominent banker as president of the Lebanon County Trust Company, a leading citizen as a lifelong Lebanonian, died suddenly at his residence, 202 Hathaway Park, early this morning. His shocking and untimely demise was attributed to an apoplectic stroke with which he was stricken within hours after presiding at a reception and dinner held by his banking institution for officials of the Buell Engineering firm at the Lebanon Country Club. Black was preparing to retire when he experienced acute chest pains. He telephoned Dr. S. C. Suter, who lives next door. Dr. Suter went to his aid at once, and was admitted to the house by Black. Dr. Suter summoned Black's physician, Dr. John J. B. Light. Before any treatment could take effect, Black expired. News of his sudden death came as a profound shock to his hosts of friends in the community he has graced as a leading and highly respected citizen and successful banker these many years. Black was a graduate of Lebanon High School in the class of 1919. After a brief period of employment at the Bethlehem Steel Company in the drawing room, he entered the employ of the banking institution in 1921. His highly successful career as one of the leading banking officials in the entire area was marked by a series of progressive promotions which led to his most recent prominent position. His first official station in the institution came in 1938 when he was elected assistant trust officer, and ten years later he moved up to the post of trust officer. He was named treasurer of the bank in 1949, and in 1953 was elected to the board of directors. He was next elected to the post of executive vice president and member of the finance committee in 1957, while also maintaining his office as treasurer. He was then named president in 1958, and has served in that capacity since that time. During his banking career of more than 40 years, he pursued a course of study at the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University, completing that course in 1951. Black also took an active interest in community affairs and programs. That phase of his active career included presidency of the Lebanon County Chamber of Commerce for one term. He was president of the board of managers of the Good Samaritan Hospital, in addition to serving that institution as treasurer. He still held that post at the time of his death. He was also a past president of the Lebanon County Bankers Association, and held directorships in the Consolidated Market House Association and Miller Brothers Lumber Company. The eminent local bank executive was a member of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church as an elder, and was active in church affairs since boyhood. He was a member of Boy Scout Troop No. 1, and continued his interest in the program for some years as an adult. He also served actively with the Community Chest drives for years as a member of the Initial Gifts Division. His community interests also included membership in the Rotary Club. Fraternal Affiliations Fraternally he was affiliated with Mt. Lebanon Lodge 226 F and A.M., Weidle Royal Arch Chapter No. 197, and the Tall Cedars of Lebanon; and the Lebanon Lodge of Elks. He was a member of the Lebanon Country Club. Black was a native Lebanonian, and was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Black. He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Edward Billingham, Greenville, Pa., and Mrs. F. Kenneth Shirk, of Camden, N. J., and three granddaughters, Martha Ann, Deborah and Elizabeth Shirk; three sisters, Mrs. Josephine Barney, of Bellaire Beach, Fla.; Isabel!, wife of Robert L. Riley, of this city; Mrs. Elizabeth Mershon, of Bena, Va., and a brother, William, living in Wiesbaden, Germany. His wife, Mrs. Beulah (Sattazahn) Black, preceded him in death about two years ago, as did a younger brother Hugh, in 1937. [Lebanon Daily News