Jacob Lewis Riley Jr.

Jacob Lewis Riley, Jr. August 18, 1917 - July 30, 2009 COLUMBUS, GA—Col. (Ret) Jacob Lewis Riley, Jr. of Columbus, GA died Thursday, July 30, 2009 at St. Francis Hospital. Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 1, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church with Dr. Jimmy Elder officiating. The services will be followed by a private interment at Parkhill Cemetery, according to Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, Columbus. Visitation will be Friday, July 31, 2009 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Striffler-Hamby, Columbus. Col. Riley was born August 18, 1917 in Perry, GA. He was the son of Jacob Lewis Riley, Sr. and Sadie Wellons Riley. His family moved to West Virginia when he was a small child. He graduated from West Virginia University in 1938, at which time he went on active duty in the United States Army with a Reserve commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. A year later, in competition that permitted the top 10% of Reserve officers to become regular officers, his commission was converted to regular Army. In 1940 his first tour was at Ft. Benning. December 7, 1941, he was stationed at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii approximately 10 miles inland from Pearl Harbor. His unit was assigned the task to set up a perimeter around the harbor and thwart incoming enemy activity. For his actions, he was awarded the Bronze Star with a "V"for valor. Col. Riley's primary combat involvement in World War II occurred in the Pacific Theatre on New Guinea as an Infantry Rifle Company Commander. He led a force of 200 soldiers to capture the Sentani Airdrome, an airfield vital to the Japanese. His successful overtaking of the airfield with only one American casualty earned him the Silver Star. In 1945, Col. Riley returned to Ft. Benning as an instructor at the Infantry School. At this time, he met Cora LaDelle Williams and they married in June 1945. Cora remained the focus of his life until her death on October 30, 1997. After retiring from the Army in 1966, he assumed the responsibility of Chief Executive Officer of the Gas Light Company of Columbus. He served in this capacity until his retirement in 1982. Always active in his community, he was chairman of the Board of Trustees Columbus College Foundation; president of Columbus Chamber of Commerce; campaign chairman for United Way; chairman for the Civilian-Military Council; president of the Columbus-Phenix City-Ft. Benning AUSA; Board of Directors Spring Opera House; president of the Columbus Symphony and the Columbus Downtown Rotary. He was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church where he served as a deacon. He was a Director Emeritus of Columbus Bank & Trust Co. and served as chairman of the Southern Open Golf Tournament. Survivors include his four children: Charlie Frank Riley and his wife Kathy Johnson Riley, Ethelyn Williams Riley, Jacob Lewis Riley III and his wife Evelyn Bain Riley and Nancy Riley Hallman. He is also survived by nine grandchildren: George DeLamar Copelan, Jr. and his wife LeAnn, Cora LaDelle Copelan Lee and her husband Will, Corrin Wellons Riley, Chandler Williams Riley and his wife Lane, Jessica Oliver Riley, Jacob Lewis Riley IV, Charlie Frank Williams Riley, Wellons Mildred Hallman and August Riley Hallman; his six great-grandchildren: George DeLamar Copelan III, Sara Ashton Copelan, Jacob Robert Copelan, William Lovard Lee, V, Cora Ladelle Lee, Sara Wellons Lee. He is also survived by step-grandchildren: John Mitchell Bain and Capt. and Mrs. John Denney, one step-granddaughter Marley Bain, and his sister and her husband Shelley and Arch Moore. He also leaves behind his beloved Yorkie and best friend, Tiger. Honorary pallbearers will be George DeLamar Copelan, Jr., Chandler Williams Riley, Jacob Lewis Riley, IV, Charlie Frank Williams Riley, William Lovard Lee, IV, and Andre Pillot Tillman, Jr.; Tuesday Night Card Group: C.L. Moffett, Bernard Witt, Ralph Egenmier, Bob Waguespack, Bill Benn and Harry Brill. Those wishing to do so, may send contributions to the First Baptist Church of Columbus, 212 12th Street, Columbus, GA 31901; PAWS, P.O. Box 8964, Columbus, GA 31908-8964; or a favorite charity.