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Sometimes, the best of plans takes a turn…for the better!

Murray Black’s father was a West Point graduate and Rhodes Scholar at Oxford where he met and later married Murray’s mother, who was from Cirencester, England. His father was killed when Murray was very young. With the outset of World War II, his mother found herself with two young children and no possibility of going back to her family’s home in England.

Murray’s dream was to be fifth in line to go to West Point, but his hopes were dashed due to the unexpected finding of high blood pressure. The staff at Walter Reed could not get his pressure down. At the same time, he’d applied for a regular NROTC scholarship. He passed all his exams, including his blood pressure, “Since that was not what I really wanted to do.” However, providentially, at UVa on a blind date, Murray met the spice of his life-Ginger.

Fast forward to a life-changing week. Murray graduated college with a degree in Electrical Engineering, was commissioned into the Navy, and wed his lovely Ginger in New Jersey. Murray found that he really liked the Navy, as he loved being at sea. The places he saw were incredible, including Europe (and the 1958 World’s Fair in Brussels), the Panama Canal, and the Caribbean. After the navy and graduate school, he went to George Mason and became the founding chairman of the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering and later held several dean positions.

Ginger grew up in Belleville and Glen Ridge, New Jersey.  She, too, had college plans that were dashed. She went to Mary Washington for two years, then nursing school at UVA. As she’d grown up in New Jersey, her family found this pretty dramatic.

Time to fast-forward for Ginger. Her life quickly changed into one as a Navy wife, raising three girls and teaching part-time. She worked as a Registered Nurse and along the way she found people really needed love, prayer, and to have someone to listen to them. Today, Ginger finds reading Scripture important and fulfilling. She works on scrapbooking and loves to walk on beaches. The sand, the waves, the sound of the water, all are precious to her. Crafting cards has become almost a ministry.

The ocean seems to accompany Ginger and Murray throughout their life together. Every three years, they host their whole family at the homey-feeling Sandbridge, which is south of Virginia Beach. Generations have attended for almost 30 years. On their next trip, they will see their recently born great grandson. They enjoy traveling and have seen many places.

Early in their life together, Church life was integral and continues today. They credit this commitment as making a major change in their lives. A remembrance from a “Marriage Encounter” weekend was the philosophy that “Love is not a feeling. Love is a decision.”

Unique are their five missionary trips to Uganda, which was greatly depleted by two corrupt regimes. These trips were life-changing for them. Murray helped the prominent Anglican seminary in Uganda to become a full-scale Christian University which was important to educate leaders to improve the life of its citizens. Ginger was involved in women’s conferences, workshops, and prayer. She toured hospitals and clinics and saw how badly they were equipped and lacking skills. A new nursing program and medical school are both now providing improved medical care.

They found Ugandans so kind, so appreciative-their presence meant much more than just sending money in support. Well, their suitcases, crammed with laboratory equipment on their journeys over, were valued highly, too! They are currently involved in scholarships and assist with funds for medical and engineering equipment. Their efforts are now taken on by a daughter and her husband.

Joys of their life are their three daughters, three sons-in-law, seven grandchildren, grandchild-in-law and great-grandson. Their three daughters visited The Woodlands before their decision and said, “This is for you.” They knew, when they stepped into their community, that it just felt right. The decision was made from their mutual respect: “If anything ever happens to either, our support system is in place.” “Everyone has a smile on their face.” And so do Murray and Ginger Black.

Article written by Karen Lyddane

From a small coal mining town in Pennsylvania, Jane Diehl shared her youth with six siblings. She was next to the youngest-the oldest is a youthful 95 years old at the writing of this article. Jane went to Washington, D.C. 11 days after graduation from High School, because a sister was living there and wanted to share a great opportunity. The young Jane was inspired to pass the Civil Service test and was offered a job right on the spot! She was 17 years old, hadn’t ventured from her beginning, and was scared to death. Although Jane didn’t want to leave home, her sister and a friend persuaded her to step into the job “as she could always quit.”

Of great comfort was the ease of going home on the weekends.

In high school days, Jane had a lot of friends but would never claim that she was popular. So, imagine how surprised she was when her classmates voted her to be their Prom Queen in 1960! This was in her senior year.

Arriving in Washington, DC in June of 1960 Jane moved in with her sister and two friends in an apartment in SE Washington, DC. A year later she moved to Arlington, living there until moving to her current home at The Woodlands Retirement Community. Jane was not one to move around a lot. All during this time, Jane had a government career. She was at the Department of Agriculture for 29 years, where she regularly met and worked with political appointees. This was a fascinating time for Jane and it was there a friend introduced her to USDA Assistant Secretary, Wilmer “Vinegar Bend” Mizell, who was seeking an assistant for his new presidential appointment by his friend George W. Bush, as Executive Director, President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS). Mr. Mizell was a politician and former professional baseball player. He served three terms as a member of Congress from North Carolina and known outside his political career as a hard-throwing left-handed pitcher for the original Mets, the St. Louis Cardinals and finally with the Pittsburgh Pirates where he played in their 1960 World Series Championship. Jane was sure that she would stay in her current job but gave in to some convincing talk and accepted a lunch invitation with him. That was it. She just couldn’t say no! He won her over, she accepted the position, and they became best friends. She remembers him for being “a true Christian.” The PCPFS is a Federal advisory committee made up of well-known sports and fitness personalities, with Arnold Schwarzenegger as Chairman while Jane worked there. He visited all 50 states promoting the physical fitness program.

After 2 years at PCPFS, Mr. Mizell accepted a new appointment – Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Jane went with him and finished her government career as Program Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs. Her office windows overlooked Lafayette Park and the north side of the White House. On 9/11, Jane was in her office when the plane hit the Pentagon. Although she didn’t see the actual impact, Jane saw the building instantly turn into a raging inferno. She exited the building and not wanting to ride the subway, walked through Georgetown, over Key Bridge, then up Lee Highway to her Arlington residence. Jane will always remember the weird sky-it was so quiet. Right then and there, she decided it was time to think about retirement and leaving the city.

Jane retired in January following the terrorist incident. It wasn’t the way she wanted to end her career, but she is convinced that it turned out to be the best thing. Today, she is 23 years retired after a 42-year government career.

Adventures in life revolved around being a “beach person” and traveling to islands. She enjoyed sailing trips with friends and found she didn’t like sailing at night and preferred staying on top with whoever was on watch.

After many years of living in a condominium, a fall resulted in surgery. Jane realized it was time to think about a more carefree living environment, where she could enjoy living independently with low or no maintenance. She wanted to feel safe and secure, have nutritious meals and the opportunity to meet new friends. Her favorite thing at The Woodlands Retirement Community is the welcoming invitations of her neighbors to join them for dinner.  Not only does she enjoy good food with her neighbors, but also the great opportunity to become acquainted and have new friends. Her move to the Woodlands Retirement Community provides all the above and more, making for her stress-free life.