Born Oct. 15, 1922, in New Boston, he was a son of the late John and Nellie Ricketts Riley and was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. Jim was a member of Cornerstone United Methodist Church and the James Dickey Post of the American Legion.
Surviving are his wife, Marie Journey Riley, whom he married Sept. 30, 1943; a son, James W. Riley II of Houston, TX; a brother, Carl Riley, and a sister, Helen Eckart, both of Portsmouth.
Also preceding him in death were a daughter, Deatra Pekar; brothers, Esham and Ora Riley; and sisters, Ethel Hicks and Florence Ward.
A funeral service will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday at the Brant Funeral Home in Portsmouth, with the Rev. Richard North officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Burial Park, with military honors by the James Dickey Post. Friends may call at Brant’s in Portsmouth after 10 a.m. on Friday.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hill View Retirement Center.
To offer condolences visit brantfuneralservice.com.






