Steven Riley

Steven E. Riley, Sr., age 99, formerly of Girard Township, died on Thursday, September 15, 2016 at Sunrise Senior Living on Presque Isle Bay.

He was born on March 6, 1917 in Girard Township, PA to the late Arthur Riley and Eunice Stevens Riley Godfrey.

Mr. Riley graduated from Rice Avenue Union High School in Girard, PA in 1935, and attended the University of Pittsburgh, Erie Center, and the Des Moines College of Osteopathy. He applied for the Army Air Cadet Training Program in 1939, but failed the eye exam. During the Second World War, and continuing until 1951, he worked as a Purchasing Agent at Bliley Electric, a defense contractor that manufactured radios for military equipment. From 1951 until 1969, he worked as a Purchasing Agent, Materials Manager, and finally as Manager of Appliance Sales at Lovell Manufacturing, later Patterson-Erie Corporation. In 1970, he became Director of Admissions at Erie Business Center until his retirement in 1982. He was the fourth generation to live on his family’s farm, the Riley Fruit Farm, in Girard Township, where he resided from the age of 9 until he retired from farming in 1998.

Mr. Riley was a lifetime member of the First United Methodist Church in Girard, PA, where he served as a trustee for many years. He was a life member of Lake Erie Lodge #347 F.&A.M. in Girard, Scottish Rite Valley of Erie, Zem Zem Shrine Temple and the Erie Maennerchor. He is a former President of the Girard School Board, and served for many years on its School District Building Authority. He also served as a member of the Girard Township Zoning Hearing Board and as a Director of the Girard Cemetery Corporation. A former President of the West County Exchange Club, he also served as District Director of the Pennsylvania Exchange Club. In 1998, he and his late wife, Mildred, received the West County Exchange Club Book of Golden Deeds Award for outstanding community service.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his siblings, Raymond Riley, Bernard Riley and Emma Jean Carter, and his first wife, Mildred Snyder Riley.

He is survived by his wife, Doris Silverthorn Riley, whom he married in 2006; his children, Michael Riley of Falls Church, VA; Kathleen Milford (Miriam Cartner) of North Kingsville, OH; Margaret Jean Bonner (Timothy) of Grove City, PA; and Steven (“Tim”) Riley, Jr. (Patty) of Erie; eight grandchildren, Susan Cook (Grant) of Alliance, OH; Patricia Milford- Hoyt (Ray) of Tulsa, OK; Erin Bonner and Ryan Bonner of Grove City, PA and Kelly Bonner Bibza (Ryan) of Mars, PA; Sean Riley (Lindsay) of Boston, MA; Daniel Riley of San Francisco, CA; and Kevin Riley (Paula Ojeda) of New York, NY; four great grandchildren, Jane Cook, Alyssa Hoyt Holmes (Aaron), Riley Hoyt and Regan Hoyt; two stepsons, Richard Silverthorn (Patricia) of Lakeland, FL and James Silverthorn (Malynna) of Burke, VA; five step grandchildren, Scott (Cheryl) Bundek of Dover, DE, Amanda (Mark Harro) Bundek of Clayton, DE, Bernice Silverthorn of Raleigh, NC; Jeff Silverthorn (Meghan) of Parker, CO; and Amy Silverthorn of Cary NC; and many nieces, nephews, and their families.

The family expresses its sincere gratitude to the many caregivers from Fairview Manor, Home Instead and Sunrise Senior Living at Presque Isle Bay who provided loving care to him during the past year and a half.

Friends may call at Burton Funeral Home, 525 Main Street East, in Girard, on Sunday, from 3 until 7pm, and are invited to attend services there on Monday at 11:00am. Burial will be at Girard Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Girard United Methodist Church, 48 Main Street, Girard, PA 16417, or to a charity of your choice.