Joseph E. Riley

Joseph Eugene Riley, 79, of Enterprise, AL, formerly of Gettysburg, PA, died Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at his home, surrounded by his loved ones. 

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, April 5, 2025, from 10:00 to 11:45 AM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, 1170 Kohler Mill Road, New Oxford, PA 17350.

Born February 3, 1945 in Gettysburg, PA. He was the son of the late Ruth (Riley) Grady and Joseph Strouth.

Joe was a 1964 graduate of Gettysburg High School where he excelled in sports and was a stand-out in football. He remained lifelong friends with many of his classmates and teammates. 

Joe was drafted into the military in 1965 serving in the Army for 2 years. Nineteen months of that service was in Panama, Central America, where his unit was sent to keep peace during the civil unrest in the Canal Zone. His unit then stayed on in Panama to help train U.S. Special Forces to prepare them for deployment to Vietnam. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant, on September 6, 1967.

Following his discharge from the military he worked 2 years for American Chain and Cable in York, PA. He started his 4 year apprenticeship with International Union of Operating Engineers Local 542 in August of 1969, graduating in 1974. He worked for more than 25 years for Aycock, Inc., in Hummelstown, PA as a crane operator. He loved his work and the men he worked with during those years. He retired in 2011 with over 40 years of dedicated service.

Following retirement he loved to garden, walk on the Gettysburg Battlefield, and travel all over the country to visit his children and grandchildren.

Joe is survived by his wife of 55 years, Sherry (Klinger) Riley, son Michael (Shanon) of Rochester, NY, and daughters, Jeanette Staley (Eric) of South Mountain, PA, Kathryn Shadle (Scott) of Berthoud, CO, Elizabeth Gagon (Todd) of Enterprise, AL, and Ashley Gresko (Ryan) of Enterprise, AL. He is also survived by 21 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren, as well as his sisters Carol Shultz of Gettysburg, PA, Linda Kernan of Aspers, PA, and brother Ken Smith of Harrisburg, PA. 

Joe loved his home state of Pennsylvania, his hometown of Gettysburg, Penn State Football and Corvettes, but his greatest joy was his children and grandchildren. All those who knew him are going to miss this hard-working, loving, kind, and soft-spoken man.