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Charles Riley, age 90, of Decatur, Alabama passed away December 4, 2018. He was born July 22, 1928 in Decatur, Alabama. He was a member of the Grant Street Church of Christ, where he served as a Bible teacher, deacon, and elder. Mr. Riley was preceded in death by his parents, Elymas Gilbert Riley and Eva Smith Riley; a twin brother, Chalmers Riley; and one sister Dorothy (Dot) Riley Little. He is survived by his wife, Willa Dean Martin (Widdy) Riley; one son, Michael Riley of Auburn Alabama; two daughters, Tami Riley Chambers (Wayne) of Notasulga, Alabama and Wendy Riley Crane (Allyn) of Decatur; four grandchildren, Charles (Charlie) and Sarah Crane of Decatur; Gunnery Sergeant Wayne Chambers (Retired), North Carolina, Christie Chambers Pobst (Brian) of Colorado Springs, Colorado; five great grandchildren Cody, Dylan, and Caleb Chambers of North Carolina, and Logan and Serena Pobst of Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Riley is a 1947 graduate of Riverside High School, He was a devoted Red Raider and was proud to be called one of “Shorty’s Boys.”
He was a member of the 1343rd Engineer Combat Battalion and served 13 months in Korea.
After his military service he attended Auburn University where He received a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, and attended University of Alabama Huntsville and Vanderbilt University where he received a Master’s Degree in Engineering. He was a member of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society.
He worked at Wolverine Tube Division (3 years), United States Army Missile Command (25 years), and as a consultant to Aerospace and Defense Contractors (15 years).
While an employee for the U.S. Army Missile Command he received the Commands highest award (Meritorious Civilian Award) three times. He was inducted into the Morgan County Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. Charles received the Audie Murphy Patriotism award in 2017. That same year the Mayor Tab Bowling presented him a key to the City.
He was an avid reader and writer. As Bible teacher he prepared all his lessons in book, chart, and PowerPoint format. He wrote 14 history books, “Celebrating 100 Years of History of the Grant Street Church of Christ,” “Shorty’s Boys-A True Story,” “The Life of Riley,” and “Widdy My True Love” and ten more.
He had many hobbies: reading, writing, football, basketball, softball, bowling, fishing, computers, and photography, He videoed his grandchildren’s T-ball, baseball, soccer, and basketball games and made hundreds of copies for distribution to the players and Coaches.
He served as a member of the Alabama Christian College Advisory Board (Faulkner University) and Freed-Hardeman University Advisory Board.
He served as: Captain of Shorty’s Boys (12 years), a member of the Ogle Scholarship Board, and the Morgan County Sports Hall of Fame Board.
The family wishes to express their gratitude to the many who cared and ministered to his need during his illness. We express his love for you as he always said, “I love you, and you, and you, and remember the best is yet to come if you live by faith.”
The family will receive friends on Friday, December 7 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Ridout’s Brown-Service Funeral Home. Funeral service will follow and burial will be at Roselawn Cemetery.
Services are under the direction of Ridout’s Brown-Service Funeral Home. Alan Watkins, the Minister of the Grant Street Church of Christ, and Bobby Ray Halbrooks will conduct the services Pallbearers will be Ed Anderson, Dickie Goode, Daniel Hall, Earl Morris, Ken Pirtle, and Tim Simpson.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to to Hospice of the Valley at 240 Johnson Street, Decatur. AL 35602.
