Artie Joseph Riley Sr.

Artie Joseph Riley, Sr., 87, of Wichita Falls went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, May 11, 2011. Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 PM Saturday, May 14, 2011 at Hampton Vaughan Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Kile Bateman officiating. Interment will follow at Crestview Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 7:00 until 8:00 Friday evening at the funeral home.

Mr. Riley was born January 18, 1924 in Graham, Texas to the late Benjamin J. Riley and Willie Etter (Mask) Riley. He was raised in Throckmorton and Breckenridge and worked in the oil fields with his brothers before entering the U. S. Navy in 1943.

Serving during World War II, he received the World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal and the Philippine Liberation Campaign Ribbon. After his honorable discharge in 1946, he continued service with the Naval Reserve until 1950. He married Ella Doyce Thompson on April 17, 1946 in Wichita Falls and they made their home here. During his early years, he was an evangelist, traveling to many small communities in this area representing the Church of Christ. Art was a postal employee until he became owner and operator of Art’s Home Pest Exterminator, Inc. in 1959 until his retirement some ten years ago. He attended Midwestern State University and later graduated from Rhema Bible College. Art was a member of Evangel Temple here in Wichita Falls for many years and taught Sunday School at the church. Art was a loving husband, father, grandfather and all of his family was special to him.

Mr. Riley is survived by his wife, Ella Doyce Riley of Wichita Falls; children, Cindy Allen, Wichita Falls, Artie Riley, Jr., Tim Riley and wife, Paula, Wichita Falls, Becky Horton and husband, Mike of Iowa Park and Lisa Riley of Wichita Falls; sister, Loyce Charles and husband, T. A. of Breckenridge, Tx.; brother, Clovis Riley and wife, Betty of Kerrville, Tx.; 13 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and 3 great- great –grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded by brothers, Virgil B. Riley and Wilburn E. Riley.

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