William Charles Riley

Services for William Charles Riley, 78, of Cleburne, will be held 2 pm Tuesday, January 25, 2022, at Eubank Funeral Home in Canton with Taylor Castleberry officiating. Interment will be in Oakland Cemetery. Visitation will be 6-8 pm Monday at the funeral home.

Our Father, William Charles Riley passed away peacefully at home. He was born in Silsbee, Texas in Hardin County to Bert and Birdie Riley. Charles was the first of five children.

Charles grew up on Walton Road in Hardin County romping through the Piney woods with his siblings, playing and fishing in the waters of Village Creek. He was a master blackberry picker. One of his tasks was plowing the family garden with the family horse, Betsy. Charles would take Betsy to birthday parties for the children to ride. He fostered rich friendships in High School that lasted a lifetime.

Charles met the love of his life, Linda, while still in High School. After graduating, the two were soon married and Charles enlisted in the United States Air Force. He was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base where he served as a Chaplain's Assistant. While in the Air Force, Charles and Linda were blessed with two daughters, Pamela and Tammy. Another blessing that they gained in San Antonio during this time, were their lifelong friends, Margie and Jim Wahl.

In 1967, after serving four years in the Air Force, Charles moved his family to Beaumont, Texas where he secured a job at Neches Butane as a Pipefitter. His little family grew by three as David, Stacey, and Cindy were born. Charles had a deep faith in Jesus Christ and instilled that faith in his children. He made sure that his little family attended church regularly at First Baptist Church of Bevil Oaks. Fathering his five children, brought him so much joy and I'm sure a few sleepless nights. Charles, along with Jesus, and Linda, built a safe and secure home where their family thrived.

Charles retired as a Pipe Inspection Manager from Huntsman, which was previously Neches Butane, in 2005. He and Linda decided to throw caution to the wind and leave the home and area they had raised their five children and retire to Canton, Texas. They joined Lakeside Baptist Church and fostered many rich friendships. His days were filled with cultivating his three acres, woodworking in his shop, and attending many socials with STARS at Lakeside Baptist. Their family of seven grew to include four son in-laws, one daughter-in-love, as well as fifteen grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren. Charles loved seeing and being surrounded with all his children and grandbabies.

After many rich years spent in Canton, Texas, Charles and Linda relocated back to Beaumont to be close to family. Charles was preceded in Death by his loving wife, Linda Ann Riley. After Linda's passing, He moved to Glenrose, Texas where he lived happily on the Farm with his daughter and son in law. His favorite pastime was watching nature from the front porch and feeding the chickens snacks with his faithful schnauzer sidekick, Sammy. Charles took his last breath of earthly air and his first breath of Heavenly Air peacefully at home. He is survived by his five children: Pamela and Butch Castleberry of Glenrose, Tammy and Rudy Hamilton of Killeen, David and Eve Riley of Huntington, Stacey and Stacy Walker of Whitehouse, and Cindy and Eric Barrett of Beaumont; fifteen grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren; brother, Thomas Riley; and three sisters: Patricia Mullin, Catherine Morvant and Karen Turner.

Charles was a man of few words but his life spoke volumes as an example of a life well lived.