Thomas E. Riley

Thomas E. Riley, 79, of Dahinda, died at Gibson City Area Hospital, Gibson City, at 5:48 p.m. Saturday, March 30, 2013. Tom was born March 22, 1934 in Galesburg to Francis E. and Mary Loretto (Cofield) Riley.  Tom graduated from Corpus Christi High School in 1952.  He studied at St. Procopius College and Brown’s Business College. He married Eunice N. Workman in Galesburg on July 10, 1964.  She died on August 24, 2009.  He is survived by his children, Thomas Eugene Riley and Susan Riley both of Gibson City and a sister, Mary Alice Olson of Galesburg.  He was preceded in death by his parents, wife and siblings, Virginia Runbom and Warren Riley. Tom was a bookkeeper of Burlington Truck Lines and Galesburg Lincoln-Mercury.  In 1969 he became the sexton of St. Joseph’s Cemetery and in 1981, added Memorial Park Cemetery.  He retired July 1, 2000. Tom was a 4th degree and lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus and was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary parish. Funeral Mass will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.  Rev. Msgr. Ernest Pizzamiglio will officiate.  Burial will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Galesburg.  Visitation will be 9-10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Watson-Thomas Funeral Home.  Memorials may be made to Providence in the Desert, an outreach ministry of the Sisters of Providence, 83148 Santo Lane, Coachella, CA 92236 or to Gibson Area Hospital, Gibson City.