Barbara Ann Riley

RILEY, Barbara Ann, age 89, of New Carlisle, passed away Tuesday, September 5, 2023, at Mount Carmel St. Ann’s in Columbus, Ohio.  Barbara was born February 12, 1934, in Bellefontaine, Ohio.  She graduated from Bellefontaine High School and worked for the Defense Electronic Supply Center until she retired in 1994.

Barbara grew up in the middle of a large loving family of ten children, seven brothers and two sisters. Her brother Larry was child number six and succumbed to scarlet fever when he was only five years old. The family was large but close as displayed by the annual Jackson Family reunion started by Barbara’s mother and father. Invitations didn’t need to be sent because for more than 70 years the family met on the first Saturday in August. This tradition continued until a pesky pandemic derailed their reunion. The reunion will be resumed and the grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren of Bob and Mary Ann will carry on the tradition.

Barbara was a Bellefontaine High School student when she met Gordon, six years her senior and a Sgt in the Air Force. They were a beautiful couple inside and out. They were married soon after Barbara graduated high school and were married for 63 years until Gordon’s passing in 2016. Gordon and Barbara had three children Dennis Keith born in Bellefontaine, Viola Christine born in New York, and Virginia Ann born in Okinawa. Barbara was meant to be a military wife. She was strong, independent, willful, personable, good-hearted, and family-oriented. She made lifelong friends at every single base where she and Gordon were stationed. When they moved to Ohio, Gordon was sent to a remote base in Alaska for a year, while Barbara established the family in their new house in Park Layne in New Carlisle. When Gordon returned from Alaska, Barbara had established a strong relationship with a core group of friends that remained friends the rest of their lives.

Barbara was a fierce family person. She was a Girl Scout leader or co-leader for Viola and Virginia into their high school years. She went to every sports game Dennis played in, and every band function Viola and Virginia participated in. She was close to every one of her siblings. Sometimes there was friendly friction due to being a ‘Jackson’ (aka strong and stubborn) but getting together meant friendship, fun, and love. Barbara continued to be an involved Grandma and Gigi with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She and Gordon went to every sports function, school outing, and band performance for all of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Grandma and Grandpa once drove an hour for their oldest grandchild’s first band concert that lasted only ten minutes! Her support and love for family is her legacy and that is instilled in her children and grandchildren.

Barbara was preceded in death by her mother and father, Mary Ann and Robert Irvin Jackson. Her husband of 63 years Gordon Keith Riley; her son, Dennis Keith Riley; daughter, Virginia Ann Riley, granddaughter Ryan Ann Riley Brown and one sister Mona Ruth Jackson (Vernie) Howard, and six brothers Harry Meshack (Lesta) Jackson, Robert J. (Deloris) Jackson, Larry Eugene Jackson, William Dennis Jackson, John Richard (Jacquie) Jackson, and Charles Martin Jackson.  She is survived by her sister Martha Christine Jackson Stewart, brother Gordon Henry Jackson, sister-in-law Marilyn McDonald Jackson, daughter Viola (Riley) Webber; four grandchildren Erica (Webber) Forbes, Randall (Bethany) Webber, Dennis Anthony Riley Brown, Kianna Jackson and five great-grandchildren, Maliyah Ann Brown, Dennis Anthony Riley Brown Jr., Bryson Prince Brown, Kyson Royal Brown, Maverik Keith Webber; several nieces & nephews, and many other relatives & friends.

Services:

Visitation will be 11 AM - 12 PM Wednesday, September 13, 2023. Funeral services will be 12 PM Wednesday in the funeral home. Burial will be in Huntsville Cemetery, Huntsville, Ohio.