George E. Black, 88, of Adrian, MO, passed away on Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at Medicalodge in Butler, MO. Funeral services were held Saturday, August 20, 2022 at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Adrian, MO.  Burial in Crescent Hill Cemetery, Adrian. Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to the First Baptist Church of Adrian.

George, the son of Perry G. and Laura A. (Rowley) Black, was born February 20, 1934 in La Cygne, Kansas. He grew up and spent the first 28 years of his life on the family farm seven miles Northwest of Adrian. At the age of 13, he trusted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, becoming a member of the First Baptist Church of Adrian; and later, was active as a Sunday school teacher and as Sunday School Superintendent until becoming disabled in 1961. After attending Buckhorn, a one room grade school, and graduating from Adrian High School in 1951, he began farming with his father and at his fathers' death in 1953, taking over complete operation of the family farm. In 1961, he became ill with Transverse Myelitis which left him paralyzed from the waist down. This ended his career of farming. After the sale of the family farm, he and his mother moved into Adrian in 1963, and he continued to live on East Main Street after his mothers' death in 1993.

In 1965, he became interested in electronics. After completing electronics schooling with The National Radio Institute and RCA Institute in 1966, he began servicing small electronic equipment and appliances in his home, continuing until 1986. He also began studying the International Morse Code and became proficient enough to pass the Federal Communications Commission examinations for a Technician Class Amateur Radio Operators license in March 1969, upgrading to Advanced Class that same year. Going on the air with his first station he operated and continued studying to eventually qualify for the highest class Amateur Radio Operator license issued by the Federal Government, the Amateur Extra Class license.

He also became interested in Computers in 1984, frequently updating his equipment to keep up with technology. He was self-taught in Basic programming, writing several programs, some of which, pertaining to Amateur Radio, were published in CQ Magazine. To carry on with his life and business, he also learned how to use word processors, spreadsheets, and other various programs. Later he spent a lot of time on the Internet, researching and learning about various things that interested him. Thanks to his 6 wheel all-terrain vehicle he was able to get out and enjoy nature and do a little target shooting, another one of his hobbies.

He is survived by many cousins, friends, and neighbors.