Lewis R. Riley

He leaves his wife of 48 years, Marjorie (McKinzie) Riley who has been his loving caregiver; sister, Onah Steele of Wichita; sons, Brian L. Riley and wife Susan, and Connor Russell and wife Katie; daughters Marsha Kerwick and husband Jim, and Pam Winterman and husband, Paul, as well as six grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. Lewis was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Enid Riley and first wife, Myriam (Anderson) Riley.

The Life of Riley began March 6, 1917 in Wichita, Kansas. Lewis received a B.S. degree in Petroleum Geology from the University of Wichita in 1940. He worked his way through college during the depression as a janitor at the college and as a caddy at a local golf course. He worked toward a Masters degree from George Washington University while attending War College in preparation for service at the Pentagon, but it was cut short when he was transferred to McConnell AFB in Wichita, KS.

His distinguished 30-year military career started in 1940 in the Aviation Cadet Program of the Army Air Corp., Moffitt Field, CA, and upon completion, was awarded his wings and commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in March of 1941. During his career, he became a graduate of Command and Staff College, Meteorology School and Flying Training School. He holds the rating of Command Pilot and he logged more than 7,525 hours of flying time, including 376 hours of combat time flown on 25 combat missions. During World War II, he served as Captain/Major in the South Pacific Theater of Operations with the 73rd Bomb Wing, 499th Bomb Group. In February 1945, the 499th Bomb Group was stationed in Saipan to fly bomb missions over Japan. After the war, he stayed voluntarily in Saipan to drop prison war supplies to prison camps in Japan.

In 1946, he returned to the states and continued his service at Riverside Air Force Base in California and Davis-Monthan Field in Arizona. Since WWII, most of Colonel Riley’s service was in the operations and command field; stateside at Ellsworth AFB, SD; Walker AFB, Roswell, NM; the Pentagon; McConnell AFB, Wichita, KS; Bergstram AFB, Austin, TX; and, McClellan AFB, Sacramento, CA. His military career also took him to Alaska, and overseas to Germany and Guam. During the Vietnam conflict, he served as Base Commander of Phan Rang AFB, Vietnam, where he orchestrated the building of an air base from a single dirt landing strip, and hosted visits from General William Westmoreland and pop star Nancy Sinatra. Following his retirement in 1970, he settled in Prairie Village, KS.

Colonel Riley’s awards and decorations include the Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, American Defense Service Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Medal for Humane Action, Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters and numerous Vietnam war medals.

Lewis was an avid outdoorsman, hunting, fishing and camping, and he enjoyed playing tennis and golf. He was also the ultimate tinkerer and shade-tree mechanic, restoring sports cars and woodworking.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Santa Marta and Grace Hospice for the loving and respectful care given to Colonel Riley.

Following the Colonel’s orders, as the family always did, there will not be a memorial service. The family will honor his 95th birthday together on March 6 in a private gathering. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Santa Marta Memory Garden, 13800 w. 116th St, Olathe, KS, 66062, or Grace Hospice, 9233 Ward Parkway, Suite 201, Kansas City, MO, 64114.