Ret. Lt. Col. Dick Norris Riley

On March 20, 2015, Ret. Lt. Col. Dick Norris Riley passed away at his daughter’s home after battling cancer. His lived a full life at 86 years of age and up until his death, remained the neighborhood CornHole Champion.

He was born in Clovis New Mexico on Sept 6, 1929 to Bartley Jasper Riley and Willie Jeff Wolford. The family moved back to Kentucky traveling cross country in a 1927 Chevrolet. There were not enough seats for all five of the boys, so Jack road standing up while Dick was passed around from Miss Willie to the older brothers. He grew up in Kuttawa, Kentucky working on the family farming until graduating high school in 1946. He lied about his age to attain employment with the Illinois Central Railroad for his first job off the family farm. He later attended the University of Kentucky and graduated in 1953 with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. While at UK, Dick was enrolled in their R.O.T.C. program. After graduating, he entered in the United States Air Force on Jan. 13 1954, in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Dick’s first assignment was the Panama Canal Zone. There he met and married Betty Jane Nelsen. Dick’s assignments took them to California, Alabama, Taiwan, Ohio, and finally Florida. While in Alabama Dick graduated Air Command and Staff College in 1956. During his military career he earned a Bronze Star, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with Five Oak Clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with one Oak Cluster. Meritorious Service Medal With one Oak Cluster. His final assignment was Commander of the 834th Supply Squadron at Hurlburt Field. During his very busy military life, he also found the time to become a member of the Shriner’s in 1958. Dick retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1980.

Upon retiring Dick played multiple rounds of golf daily, a game he always loved and played well. He started a heating fuel delivery service and when the contract expired he started investing in County tax certificates. This investment business became his full time job for the next twenty plus years. It enabled him to travel the state meeting many of the County Tax Collectors.

Dick was preceded in death by his loving bride of 53 years, Betty Jane Nelsen Riley, and three brothers, B.J. Riley, James Riley, and David Riley. Dick is survived by two brothers, Jack Riley and his wife Bobbye Catherine Riley of Louisville, KY, Bill Riley and his wife Velma of Ellington IA, son, Daniel N. Riley, grandson, Dustin, daughter, Linda R. Vause, and her husband, Paul E. Vause, Jr.

Inurnment services will be held at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola on April 24th at 2:00 pm. The family will hold a reception at 668 Merioneth Drive NE, Ft. Walton Beach, FL from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to your favorite charity.