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Thomas Alva “Al” Riley

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Thomas Alva “Al” Riley

Birth
Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, USA
Death
15 Aug 2020 (aged 89)
Mount Pleasant, Charleston County, South Carolina, USA
Burial
Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
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Thomas Alva Riley, 89, of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, husband of the late Joan Molden Riley, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, on Saturday, August 15, 2020. Al was born on May 23, 1931, in Annapolis, Maryland, son of the late Travers Roland Brown Riley and Anna Mankin Riley. He graduated from Annapolis High School, class of 1950.

After graduation, he was employed at the US Naval Engineering Experiment Station until 1962. He then took a position at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center where he worked as an aerospace technician until his retirement in 1986. Al served his country with the Maryland National Guard from 1950 to 1960. He married his wife Joan Molden Riley in 1956, making their home in Annapolis, Maryland.

Al was a long time active member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Annapolis, where he worshiped regularly and served faithfully in the roles of Sunday school teacher, deacon and elder. Al and Joan, together with a group of parents, helped to establish Annapolis Area Christian School, desiring to provide their children with a Biblically-based, academically excellent education. Upon moving to Mount Pleasant, SC, Al attended East Cooper Baptist Church, where he enjoyed the worship, teaching and fellowship, especially the Empty Nest Bible class and Prime Timers ministry. Al was a friendly, generous and hospitable gentleman, known for his quick wit and his trademark handlebar mustache. Al and Joan often opened their home to family and friends, including many midshipmen from the Naval Academy.

His interests included gardening, photography, crossword and jigsaw puzzles, baking and handcrafts. He was a member of the Franke at Seaside community where he, affectionately known as the Cookie Man, shared his homemade goodies with friends and neighbors. He enjoyed traveling, especially with his children and grandchildren. Al delighted in the beauty of the mountains in the fall and the coast in the summer, most recently Edisto Island.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years; his brother, Dr. Roland Emory Riley; and sister, Anna Riley Cromwell. He is survived by his daughters, Tamara Riley Graham (John) of Mount Pleasant, SC, and Melanie Riley Breckenridge (Richard) of North Stonington, CT; his son, Brian Ashley Riley (fiancee, Mary) of Grasonville, MD; six grandchildren, Caroline Graham, Ryan Breckenridge, Anna Breckenridge, Emily Breckenridge Kugler, Erick Breckenridge, and Jake Riley; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

His funeral service will be held at East Cooper Baptist Church, Mount Pleasant, SC, on Saturday, August 22, 2020, at 11 AM. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Mount Pleasant Chapel. Burial will be at Saint Anne's Cedar Bluff Cemetery in Annapolis, MD, on Monday, August 24, 2020, at 11 AM. Arrangements by John M. Taylor Funeral Home, Annapolis, Maryland.

Published in Charleston Post & Courier from Aug. 18 to Aug. 19, 2020.
Thomas Alva Riley, 89, of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, husband of the late Joan Molden Riley, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, on Saturday, August 15, 2020. Al was born on May 23, 1931, in Annapolis, Maryland, son of the late Travers Roland Brown Riley and Anna Mankin Riley. He graduated from Annapolis High School, class of 1950.

After graduation, he was employed at the US Naval Engineering Experiment Station until 1962. He then took a position at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center where he worked as an aerospace technician until his retirement in 1986. Al served his country with the Maryland National Guard from 1950 to 1960. He married his wife Joan Molden Riley in 1956, making their home in Annapolis, Maryland.

Al was a long time active member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Annapolis, where he worshiped regularly and served faithfully in the roles of Sunday school teacher, deacon and elder. Al and Joan, together with a group of parents, helped to establish Annapolis Area Christian School, desiring to provide their children with a Biblically-based, academically excellent education. Upon moving to Mount Pleasant, SC, Al attended East Cooper Baptist Church, where he enjoyed the worship, teaching and fellowship, especially the Empty Nest Bible class and Prime Timers ministry. Al was a friendly, generous and hospitable gentleman, known for his quick wit and his trademark handlebar mustache. Al and Joan often opened their home to family and friends, including many midshipmen from the Naval Academy.

His interests included gardening, photography, crossword and jigsaw puzzles, baking and handcrafts. He was a member of the Franke at Seaside community where he, affectionately known as the Cookie Man, shared his homemade goodies with friends and neighbors. He enjoyed traveling, especially with his children and grandchildren. Al delighted in the beauty of the mountains in the fall and the coast in the summer, most recently Edisto Island.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years; his brother, Dr. Roland Emory Riley; and sister, Anna Riley Cromwell. He is survived by his daughters, Tamara Riley Graham (John) of Mount Pleasant, SC, and Melanie Riley Breckenridge (Richard) of North Stonington, CT; his son, Brian Ashley Riley (fiancee, Mary) of Grasonville, MD; six grandchildren, Caroline Graham, Ryan Breckenridge, Anna Breckenridge, Emily Breckenridge Kugler, Erick Breckenridge, and Jake Riley; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

His funeral service will be held at East Cooper Baptist Church, Mount Pleasant, SC, on Saturday, August 22, 2020, at 11 AM. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Mount Pleasant Chapel. Burial will be at Saint Anne's Cedar Bluff Cemetery in Annapolis, MD, on Monday, August 24, 2020, at 11 AM. Arrangements by John M. Taylor Funeral Home, Annapolis, Maryland.

Published in Charleston Post & Courier from Aug. 18 to Aug. 19, 2020.


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  • Created by: Len Clark
  • Added: Aug 19, 2020
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/214593770/thomas_alva-riley: accessed ), memorial page for Thomas Alva “Al” Riley (23 May 1931–15 Aug 2020), Find a Grave Memorial ID 214593770, citing Saint Anne's Cedar Bluff Cemetery, Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, USA; Maintained by Len Clark (contributor 48896768).