Linda Lou Riley, 73, was called to join the Lord, on Sunday, June 24, 2018. She was born in Gibson County, Indiana on August 6, 1944, to her late parents, Rev. James and Audrey (Dixon) Burch. Linda was a life-long musician, vocalist, teacher, and follower of Christ. After only knowing each other for about a year, Linda married Gilbert Q. Riley, June 19, 1965, while still in college. They couldn’t wait any longer to begin their lives together. Linda finished her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education, from Oakland City University in 1967, and began teaching at West Elementary School in Mt Vernon, IN, while Gil was serving in Vietnam, with the United States Army. During his military career, Gil took Linda and their two children, on an adventure of a lifetime, traveling across the United States and the world, to places like Hawaii, Italy, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, and France. Throughout the course of her travels, and life, Linda went on to direct various choir and band ensembles, teach private piano and voice lessons, spread the word of the Lord, and help distribute Bibles to areas in need. Linda moved to Florida with her family in 1987 and was a member of New Covenant Church, in Winter Springs, ever since. Linda was preceded in death by her mother and father, and is survived by her husband of 53 years, Gilbert, her two children, Rebecca Bissett and Jon Riley, her grandchildren, Heather Bissett and Sarah Katsov, her step-sister, Betty Layton, and many other loved family members. A visitation will be held Friday, June 29 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., at Baldwin Fairchild Goldenrod – 7520 Aloma Ave. Winter Park, FL 32792. A funeral service will be held 9 a.m. Saturday, June 30 at New Covenant Church - 800 Tuskawilla Rd, Winter Springs, FL 32708. Linda’s final resting place will be at Highland Memory Gardens, in Apopka, FL. Her burial will commence at 2pm, June 30.
