Marvin Riley

Marvin Earnest Riley was called home to his Heavenly Father on Monday evening, January 18, 2021 surrounded by his three devoted daughters.   The sixth of nine children, he was born Feb. 15, 1928, to the late William Allen and Maxie Glenna (Gullett) Riley. He graduated from Southeastern High School in 1945. Following high school, Marvin enlisted in the US Army and was stationed in Germany in Troop E 25 th Constabulary Squad. Upon his honorable discharge, "Ernie" married his high school sweetheart, Della Lena Hummel on May 28, 1947.   Marvin worked on his father's farm and sawmill and later at the Chilpaco Paper Co. as a trimmer and inspector. He became a union organizer and was instrumental in establishing the Local 988 and Local 731 unions at the Chillicothe Mead Paper Mills. Marvin went on to become an international union organizer with the United Paper Mill Union Workers. After twenty years of service to thousands of paper workers, Marvin retired in 1988.   Mr. Riley was proud of his Ross-Chillicothe community. He was a board trustee for the Scioto-Paint Valley Mental Health Center, the Chillicothe Zoning Board, an active member of the S.A.L.T. Council, NAACP, Mead Retirees, "Friends of Lucy" Heritage Center, Locals 988 and 731 Paper Unions, and the Ross Co. Farm Bureau. He was a member of the AMVETS, No. 4, the American Legion, Post 757, and a life-long member of the Knights of Columbus, Council 1071, where he was a Fourth Degree Knight.   A member of St. Mary Church, Marvin served in the prison ministry outreach at CCI for over 20 years. He was a Eucharistic Minister, usher and founding member of the Lazarus Committee. He and Della were on the Diocesan Commission for Peace and Justice and received the Gus Winkler Justice & Peace Award from Bishop James Griffin in 1987.   In addition to his parents and wife, Marvin was preceded in death by siblings Shea, John and William Riley, Zelma Lapp and Retha Underwood; and a son-in-law Joseph E. Rouleau.   He is survived by daughters: Delma Ann Rouleau, Chillicothe, Grace Marlene (Ned) Boggs, of Kingston, and Maxie Marie (Randy) Good, Adelphi; grandchildren: Jason Fath, Zachary Fath, Holly Walker, Jonathan (Christy) Rouleau, Joseph A. Rouleau, Francois Rouleau; 12 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; siblings Earl (Linda) and Thomas (Carol) Riley, and Maxine Wright; and numerous nieces and nephews. He has been blessed by many good neighbors, friends and his beloved backyard squirrel "Squacky."   Private Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Mary Church. Friends may visit the St. Mary Catholic Church Facebook page to watch live at 11am Saturday, January 23. Public military graveside, conducted by the Ross Co. Veterans Honor Guard, will be held at apx. Noon Saturday in Greenlawn Cemetery. Face masks and social distancing required. Anyone wanting to drive in the procession from St. Mary to Greenlawn should arrive at St. Mary by 11:45 Saturday. Memorial Contributions may be made to St. Vincent DePaul Society of St. Mary, 61 S. Paint St., Chillicothe, OH 45601.
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