Colonel Gene Ralph Riley

COLONEL GENE RALPH RILEY FLORENCE, SC COLONEL GENE RALPH RILEY, 68, of Florence, died Monday, June 6, 2011 at a Florence hospital. Colonel Riley was born in Lexington, SC a son of the late John Derrick and Emma Ruth Lindler Riley.He attended Wofford College, graduated from Upper Iowa University and graduated from the US Army War College.He retired after 32 years from the US Army National Guard as the Adjutant General's Chief of Staff, having received many decorations and honors.He was dedicated to God, family and country.He was a member of the Wittenberg Lutheran Church in Leesville, SC and attended St. Ann's Catholic Church in Florence. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Patricia Crickenberger Riley of the home; daughter, Regina Catherine Riley (Robert Allan) Pound, of Florence; grandchildren, Emma Catherine Pound and Sarah Elizabeth Pound, both of Florence; siblings, James L. (Louise) Riley of Leesville, Edith (James) Wessinger of Chapin, Don C. (Ethel) Riley of Lexington, John David (Kay) Riley of Lexington and Alice Ruth (James O.) Harmon of Chapin; sister-in-law, Barbara C. (Bill) Bodie of Lexington and a number of nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to St. Ann's Building Fund, 113 Kemp Street, Florence, SC 29506 or to the Manna House, PO Box 13541, Florence, SC29504. A mass of Christian Burial will be said at 10:30 AM Thursday, June 9, 2011 at St. Ann's Catholic Church.Burial will be at 4:00 PM in the Wittenberg Lutheran Church Cemetery in Leesville, SC directed by Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home of Florence.The family will receive friends immediately following the services in the Wittenberg Lutheran Church in Leesville. The family will receive friends from 6 – 8 PM Wednesday at the funeral home. Please sign the guest registry for Colonel Riley at the obit section of www.stoudenmiredowling.com.