Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, December 6, 1993 TAG: 9312060162
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
OBIT RILEY, ETHEL GIVENS
RILEY, Ethel Givens, 89, of 3027 Purple Finch Rd., Roanoke, died at her
home, Friday, December 3, 1993 after struggling with degenerative dementia for
some years. Ethel was born June 9, 1904 in Galax, Va., the tenth and last
child of Augusta O. and Frank M. Givens. She married H. P. (Pete) Riley of
Staunton in 1932 and spent 42 happy years with him until his death in 1975.
Five of these years were in Fairmont, W. Va., thirty-two in McKeesport, Pa.
and five in Staunton. While living in the Pittsburgh area (McKeesport, Pa.), a
son, David, was born in 1949. During her life, she was a busy homemaker,
brought good cheer to the sick and shut-in by doing volunteer work at the
Methodist Home in Pittsburgh, Pa., and the First United Methodist Church in
McKeesport, Pa. She was also an avid painter of china and did landscapes in
pastel and oil during her earlier years. She was a member of the United
Methodist Church in Galax (where she married in 1932), First United Methodist
Church in McKeesport, Pa., Central United Methodist Church in Staunton, and
both Raleigh Court and Cave Spring United Methodist Churches in Roanoke. In
Pennsylvania, she was a member of the McKeesport YWCA and the Pittsburgh China
Painters. In 1978 she moved to Roanoke and has been cared for by her son for
the last seven years at their home on Purple Finch Road. Her journey home to
the Lord has been greatly eased in the last six months by the care and love of
the people at Good Samaritan Hospice. She is survived by her son, David M.
Riley of Roanoke; and her older sister, Rachel G. Spurlin of Wytheville. A
service was held Sunday, December 5, 1993, in the Henry Funeral Home Chapel in
Staunton. A graveside service will be held today, December 6, 1993, in
Thornrose Cemetery in Staunton, by Rev. Bill Logan. In lieu of flowers,
donations may be made to Good Samaritan Hospice, 3825 Electric Rd., Suite A,
Roanoke, Va. 24016.
by CNB