Riley Wilbur Dial
May 25, 1928 ~ August 24, 2019 (age 91) 91 Years Old
Tribute
Riley Dial, of Hixson, died peacefully on Saturday, August 25th after a short illness. He was surrounded by his loving family and Alice (Bonds), his wife of 70 years. Since July he and Alice have been residents of Life Care of Hixson.
Riley was born on May 25, 1928 in Brunswick, GA and spent his childhood enjoying that city and its nearby sea islands. Among his happiest memories was the time he spent in the Boy Scouts of America. He attained the rank of Eagle Scout in 1944 and thereafter proudly displayed the badge and identification card signed by President Roosevelt. He moved to Greensboro, Alabama in 1942 and graduated from Greensboro High School. It was there that he met his high school sweetheart and future wife. They have been a loving couple since 1943. He attended the University of Alabama immediately after graduation and then served briefly as a merchant marine. After their marriage in 1948, Riley and Alice moved to Chattanooga, where he took a job at DuPont. He worked at the plant until 1978. From 1979 until his retirement in 1993, Riley worked as a Junior Planner at the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission.
The Dial family joined Rivermont Presbyterian Church in 1960, shortly after they moved to the Hixson area. Riley counted fellow congregants among his best friends over the decades and enjoyed many happy years of fellowship in that loving community. He will be remembered by his neighbors, friends and former colleagues as a man with an easy smile, a gentle disposition, a quick sense of humor and a commitment to any friend in need. To his family he was a devoted son, brother, husband and father.
Riley was preceded in death by his loving parents, Edward Rodrick and Ethel Turner, Greensboro, AL; brother, Jack Dial, Cartersville, GA; and sister, Jill Corbitt, Brunswick, GA. In addition to his wife Alice, he is survived by daughters Kathy Gerskin, Ooltewah, TN and Diane LeFevers (Cliff), Alpharetta, GA; son Rodrick Dial (Adam), Chappaqua, NY; grandchildren Danielle, Ruth and Alex; sisters Catherine Christie, Wilmington, NC; Ethel Sellers (Gilbert), Ramer, AL, Nan Hanburry (Milton), Jacksonville, FL; brother Tommy Dial (Janice), Cartersville, GA and treasured in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service to celebrate Riley’s life will be held at Rivermont Presbyterian Church, 3319 Hixson Pike, Chattanooga, TN 37415 on Saturday, September 7th. The family will receive friends beginning at 10am in the atrium at the church. A service will follow at 11am.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Congregational Care Committee of Rivermont Presbyterian Church, Hixson, TN or to the Boy Scouts of America.
Arrangements entrusted to Lane Funeral Home~Ashland Terrace, 601 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, TN 37415, (423) 877-3524, Lanefh.com.
Riley was born on May 25, 1928 in Brunswick, GA and spent his childhood enjoying that city and its nearby sea islands. Among his happiest memories was the time he spent in the Boy Scouts of America. He attained the rank of Eagle Scout in 1944 and thereafter proudly displayed the badge and identification card signed by President Roosevelt. He moved to Greensboro, Alabama in 1942 and graduated from Greensboro High School. It was there that he met his high school sweetheart and future wife. They have been a loving couple since 1943. He attended the University of Alabama immediately after graduation and then served briefly as a merchant marine. After their marriage in 1948, Riley and Alice moved to Chattanooga, where he took a job at DuPont. He worked at the plant until 1978. From 1979 until his retirement in 1993, Riley worked as a Junior Planner at the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission.
The Dial family joined Rivermont Presbyterian Church in 1960, shortly after they moved to the Hixson area. Riley counted fellow congregants among his best friends over the decades and enjoyed many happy years of fellowship in that loving community. He will be remembered by his neighbors, friends and former colleagues as a man with an easy smile, a gentle disposition, a quick sense of humor and a commitment to any friend in need. To his family he was a devoted son, brother, husband and father.
Riley was preceded in death by his loving parents, Edward Rodrick and Ethel Turner, Greensboro, AL; brother, Jack Dial, Cartersville, GA; and sister, Jill Corbitt, Brunswick, GA. In addition to his wife Alice, he is survived by daughters Kathy Gerskin, Ooltewah, TN and Diane LeFevers (Cliff), Alpharetta, GA; son Rodrick Dial (Adam), Chappaqua, NY; grandchildren Danielle, Ruth and Alex; sisters Catherine Christie, Wilmington, NC; Ethel Sellers (Gilbert), Ramer, AL, Nan Hanburry (Milton), Jacksonville, FL; brother Tommy Dial (Janice), Cartersville, GA and treasured in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service to celebrate Riley’s life will be held at Rivermont Presbyterian Church, 3319 Hixson Pike, Chattanooga, TN 37415 on Saturday, September 7th. The family will receive friends beginning at 10am in the atrium at the church. A service will follow at 11am.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Congregational Care Committee of Rivermont Presbyterian Church, Hixson, TN or to the Boy Scouts of America.
Arrangements entrusted to Lane Funeral Home~Ashland Terrace, 601 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, TN 37415, (423) 877-3524, Lanefh.com.
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