Etta Lee Riley

Riley, Etta Lee (nee Giddens) – age 96 of Roseville, California passed away in her sleep on April 6, 2021. Etta was born on April 1, 1925, in Eastman, Georgia. Her father was Isaac Thomas Giddens and her mother was Eula Lee Giddens.

After attending Giddens School in Dodge County, Georgia where she excelled both academically and athletically, she graduated with honors from Lebanon High School in Anderson, South Carolina. She later attended Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas and Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee.

She was married for 54 years to Frank C. Riley, Sr., of Augusta, Georgia, who retired after 32 years in the U. S. Army as a Colonel in the Chaplains Corp. As an Army wife, she lived in various places in the United States, Central America, and Europe including Germany, Italy, and Austria. After attending Defense Language School in Monterey, California, she, and her husband ended “their” military career in the Panama Canal Zone where they lived for three wonderful years. They then called Orlando, Florida home and continued to travel extensively for many years.

Etta was preceded in death by her husband, Frank C. Riley, Sr. and eldest son, Frank C. Riley, Jr. Etta continued to live in the Orlando area for several years until she moved to California to be near her sons, Bruce and Mark.

Survivors include her sons Michael and wife Pamela, Phillip (Bruce) and wife Barbara, Mark and wife Alexandra, grandsons Sean and wife Molly, David and Steven, granddaughters Kathy and Anika, great-grandson Jackson and great-granddaughter Natalie. Etta’s final wish was that she would be buried next to Frank.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Woodlawn Funeral Home in Gotha, Florida.

Friends and family are welcomed to attend the interment which will be held graveside on Sunday, May 16, 2021 at 11:00 am at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Gotha, Florida. Information will be placed on the Dignity Memorial website (dignitymemorial.com) on May 12th.

In lieu of flowers, we are requesting friends and family to make a donation in her name to any of the following organizations that she enthusiastically supported during her lifetime: Shriner’s Hospital for Children, the USO, the Orlando Rescue Mission or your local food bank. Please include your name and address as well as our address so that we can also thank you.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.woodlawnfuneralhomegotha.com