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John Howard ‘Slim’ Riley

Riley

Riley

Dec. 9, 1926 – May 19, 2017

John H. “Slim” Riley, 90, Roaring Spring, died Friday at Van Zandt VA Medical Center, Altoona, after a brief illness.

He was born in Roaring Spring, son of the late Robert and Helen (Kagarise) Riley. On April 17, 1948, he married Carol Jean Croft at Centenary Reformed Church, Winchester, Va. She preceded him in death on April 30, 2008.

Surviving are four children: Vicki Bayer in Virginia, Terry Turner and husband, Paul, of Bellwood, Julie Wertz and husband, Barry, of Altoona and John Riley II and wife, Julie, of Martinsburg; nine grandchildren: Jennifer DeChristopher (Kevin), Barry R. Wertz II (Robyn), Jessica Brighton (Michael), Bradley Wertz (Amber), Melissa Hershel (William), Joanna McManigal (Brian), Alan Wertz (fiancee, Colleen) and Jared and Jacob Riley; 16 great-grandchildren: Jordan Bayer, Laurel and Olivia DeChristopher, Tyson and Abigayle Wertz, Conor and Jude Brighton, Weston, Autumn, Emalyn and Bryson Wertz, Brooke, Mason and Bristol Hershel and Rory and Rian McManigal; and three siblings: Neva Carper, Ray Neal Riley and Paul “Willy” Riley.

He was preceded in death by two sisters: Lois Riley and Gertrude Wertman; a son-in-law, John “Bud” Bayer; and a grandson, Brett Alan Wertz.

Slim was a 1944 graduate of Roaring Spring High School. He was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII, serving in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater with the 81st Infantry Division and 1st Cavalry Division. He was employed at D.M. Bare Paper Co. and News Printing Co., and he retired in 1989 from Sedloff Publications, Portage.

Slim was a member of Bare Memorial Church of God and the Crusaders Sunday school class. He served for many years as a deacon and elder; and in 2005, was elected to the post of life elder. He was a life member and past commander of both Ray Camp VFW Post 7689 and the Murray-Appleman American Legion Post 147.

Slim loved spending time with his family, especially vacationing at Holden Beach, N.C. He was an avid Penn State sports fan. He also loved American history, working on crossword and jigsaw puzzles and reading.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, 2017, at Bare Memorial Church of God, Roaring Spring, and from 10 until the 11 a.m. funeral service Thursday, May 25, 2017, at the church, Pastor Dave Williams officiating. Interment with military honors will be made in Greenlawn Cemetery, Roaring Spring.

Contributions in Slim’s memory may be given to the Bare Memorial Church of God, Roaring Spring, or to Roaring Spring Community Library. Arrangements are by Todd T. Thompson Funeral Home Inc., Roaring Spring.

thompsonfh.com