Robert D. Black of Wrightstown, died peacefully at home on Sunday, December 14, 2014, with his life partner of twenty nine years and husband of five months, Robert W. Thomas and his beloved dogs by his side. He fought a yearlong battle with congestive heart failure, Amyloidosis and kidney failure. He was 72 years old. Born in Hatboro, Robert spent most of his life as a resident of Bucks County. He graduated from Hatboro Horsham High School, and received his Bachelor's Degree from Lock Haven University and his Master's Degree from Trenton State College. Robert was an elementary educator at Morrisville Boro School District for 25 years, and upon retiring was a partner in Thomas and Black Landscaping.

In 1968 Robert got his first West Highland White Terrier which started a lifelong involvement with the Dog Fancy as a breeder and a dog show exhibitor. In 2002 he got his first Lakeland Terrier and started breeding and showing them as well. Robert became an AKC Terrier Judge in 2002. He had judged many Terrier Specialty Shows in the USA, as well as Europe, Australia, Asia, Africa, Canada and South America. He judged the AKC/Eukanuba Invitational show twice, the Kennel Club of Philadelphia National Dog Show and twice at Westminster Kennel Club in New York.

Robert was an active member of the Hatboro Dog Club for almost 45 years where he held the positions of President and Vice President, as well as being the Hatboro Dog Club Delegate to the American Kennel Club. He was the Show Chairman for the Hatboro Dog Club's yearly dog show for 26 years before his retirement this year, where he was awarded "Show Club Emeritus." Other dog club affiliations include The West Highland White Terrier Club of America, The United States Lakeland Terrier Club, Kennel Club of Philadelphia, Montgomery County Kennel Club, Santa Barbara Kennel Club and the Canadian Lakeland Terrier Club. Robert was a well-liked, fair and respected judge and will be sorely missed by the dog show community.

In addition to his husband, Robert is also survived by a brother, Christian Black of Cochranville, PA and two nieces, Caroline Black in Raleigh, NC and Emily Ann Black in Warrington, PA; Also, stepchildren, Kate Lightfoot of New Hope, PA and her children Owen and Emmet and James Thomas and Beverly Godfrey of Philadelphia, PA; brother and sister-in-law Garry and Connie Thomas in Ithaca, NY; sister-in-law Ramona Thomas in Castle Rock, CO and Don and Erika Schmalbruch in Doylestown, PA. Also Mike and Carla Buffin Thomas and Katrina Thomas and husband Duncan, both in England and nephew Caleb Thomas in Ithaca, NY; Lisa and George Martin in Delran, NJ and Cindy and John Smrcka and Sophie in Castle Rock, CO and Christian and Pat Schmalbruch in Clarendon Hills, IL and their children Lauren and Sarah; and Anja Strathdee and children Douglas and Ellie.