On Wednesday, February 3, 2021, Dianne O’Reilly Eubanks (nee Alice Dianne O’Reilly) passed away peacefully at Glenwood Center in Florence, Alabama. Dianne was born September 20, 1943 in Birmingham, Alabama to the late Charles B. O’Reilly, Jr. and Zada O’Reilly (Motley). She grew up in Huntsville where her parents were pillars of the local community. Charlie O’Reilly was a renowned sports star and graduate of Auburn University who, after fighting in World War II, became a prominent member of the Advertising staff at the Huntsville Times for decades until his death in 1982. Zada O’Reilly was a beloved teacher at Butler High School who, while Dianne was growing up, formed the Huntsville Teachers Credit Union (now known as the North Alabama Educators Credit Union) to provide credit union services to teachers and school staff throughout the area. Dianne was a 1961 graduate of Huntsville Senior High School and matriculated to Auburn University where she became a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and met her future husband, George K. Eubanks. As the wife of a Marine Corps officer, Dianne was stationed around the United States and traveled with her three sons: George (Buddy), Jeffrey, and John. She and George divorced in 1983.
From 1998 to 2005, she proudly worked with The Investigative Project on Terrorism in Washington, DC. There, she was the financial manager, an investigator, and a researcher.
Her life was characterized by her love of God and her affinity toward the State of Israel where she lived for an extended period in the 1990s.
Dianne was preceded in death by her parents. Her son, Jeff, passed away in February 2020. Survivors include her sons, Buddy (Lori) and John (Renee); grandchildren, Hannah (Troy), Faith, Andrea, Kathryn, Reilly Maeve, Mikayla, Ally and Jacob; and many dear friends.
A graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, February 6, 2021 at Huntsville Memory Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Jewish National Fund (http://www.jnf.org) to provide support for her beloved Israel.
