Obituary of James Paul Riley

On Tuesday, March 5, 2013, James Paul Riley, a lifelong resident of Hillsborough, NC passed away at the age of 87. He was born in Hillsborough on June 15, 1925 to Paul Miller Riley and Mary Oakley Riley. Eager to serve his country during WWII, James enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of 17 and proudly served in the Pacific Theatre, earning several medals including the Purple Heart. After the war, James returned to Hillsborough and began his career as a meat-cutter with Colonial Groceries. James was an avid square-dancer and enjoyed dancing well into his eighties; but his greatest joys in life centered on his grandchildren and the endless hours he spent with them. He taught generations of Riley children how to swim, spent countless hours in the stands at ball games cheering and offering encouragement, and was present at every important event in the lives of his large extended family. James was preceded in death by his parents and by his son, William Riley. He was also predeceased by his brothers, Percy Riley and Robert Riley and by his sisters, Gladys Wilder, Hazel Riley, Helen Collins and Ramona Overman. He is survived by his son, Gregory Paul Riley and by his daughter, Kimberly Riley Carden (Chuck), and by his grandchildren, William Jason Riley, Jennifer Deloris Riley, Shannon Marie Blake, Britney Christine Sineath, Melissa Arianne Gordon and Jared Miller Riley, and by great-grandchildren Morgan, Laiken, Chase, Tycen, Chiara, Chloe and Kaley, and by many nieces and nephews who will all miss him dearly. Visitation with the family will be at Walker's Funeral Home in Hillsborough on Saturday, March 9, 2013 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Funeral services will be held 2 PM Sunday the 10th of March at Eno United Methodist Church on 903 Eno Street in Hillsborough. Burial to follow at Hillsborough Cemetery . In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Eno United Methodist Church.