Thursday, May 2, 2024
John D. Riley, age 81, of Lubbock, passed away on Thursday, March 14, 2024.
A viewing was held on Tuesday, March 19, at Englunds Funeral Service, followed by a visitation. Arrangements are under the direction of Englunds Funeral Service of Slaton. A visitation took place on Friday, March 22, followed by a Celebration of Life service at Finch Funeral Chapel in Yorktown. Interment followed at Nordheim Cemetery next to his wife in Nordheim, Texas with military honors. Arrangements were under the direction of Finch Funeral Chapel in Yorktown.
John was born in Gatesville on August 17, 1942. He was the third son and fifth child of James S. and Eton Johnson Riley. John was a 1960 graduate of Gatesville I.S.D. and then attended Navarro Junior College in Corsicana on a basketball scholarship from 1960-1962. Continuing his education, he graduated from SWTXC in San Marcos in 1965. John married his college sweetheart, Barbara (Bobbie) Wagner, of Nordheim, Texas on Jan. 29, 1966, at St. Michaels Catholic Church in Runge, Texas. Pursuing a career in Pharmacy, he attended UT in Austin and graduated with a Pharmacy Degree in January of 1968.
John was drafted into the Army in July of 1968 in Dallas and did basic training in Ft. Polk, Louisiana. He was then stationed at Vint Hill Farms Station in Warrenton, Virginia with the Army Security Agency. In November of 1969, John was deployed to the Republic of Vietnam, serving in Binh Dinh Province as a Pharmacist/Medic. He was discharged as an E-5 on July 3, 1970. John often said, “I am proud to be an American, but prouder to be a Texan.”
John and Bobbie moved from Austin to Lubbock in 1975 and purchased Fee Pharmacy on 34th Street, and the pharmacy was sold in 1989. John then worked as a pharmacist for the Lubbock State School from 1989-1998. John continued to do relief work throughout West Texas before retiring in 2022 after 54 years as a pharmacist. John loved playing golf frequently until 2016 when cancer surgery made it no longer possible. John was a member of Christ the King Cathedral in Lubbock.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; his sisters, Doris DeMilia and Ellen Lam; and his brother, Gene Riley, all of Gatesville.
John is survived by his sons, David Riley and his wife, Megan, and Jeff Riley and his wife, Lori, all of Dallas; his brother, Jim Riley and his wife, Linda, of Bulverde; his granddaughters, Lilly, Bridgett, and Violet Riley; his brothers-in-law, Jim Wagner and family of the Metroplex and Steve Wagner and family of San Marcos; his sister-in law, Jerry Riley, of Gatesville; and numerous nieces and nephews that he dearly loved. John wanted to mention a special thanks to the Wagner Clan of DeWitt County, Texas for always being so welcoming all these years.
In lieu of flowers, and in consideration of having to travel, the family requestsw that donations be made to Nordheim Cemetery, or a charity of your choice.
