John D. Riley

John D. Riley, 81, of Lubbock, passed away on Thursday, March 14, 2024.

Viewing will be 11:00 am-6:00 pm Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at Englunds, followed by a visitation, 6-7:00 pm. Arrangements are under the direction of Englunds Funeral Service of Slaton. Visitation will be 9-10:00 am Friday, March 22, 2024, followed by a Celebration of Life at 10:00 am at Finch Funeral Chapel in Yorktown.  Interment will follow at Nordheim Cemetery next to his wife, in Nordheim, Texas, with Military Honors. Arrangements are under the direction of Finch Funeral Chapel in Yorktown, Texas.

John was born in Gatesville, Texas on August 17, 1942.  He was the third son and fifth child of James S. and Eton Johnson Riley. John was a 1960 graduate of Gatesville I. S. D. and then attended Navarro Junior College in Corsicana, on a basketball scholarship from 1960-1962. Continuing his education, he graduated from SWTXC in San Marcos in 1965. John married his college sweetheart, Barbara (Bobbie) Wagner of Nordheim, Texas on January 29, 1966, at St. Michaels Catholic Church in Runge, Texas. Pursuing a career in Pharmacy, he attended UT in Austin and graduated with a Pharmacy Degree in January of 1968.

John was drafted into the Army in July of 1968 in Dallas and did basic training in Ft. Polk, Louisiana. He was then stationed at Vint Hill Farms Station in Warrenton, Virginia with the Army Security Agency.  In November of 1969, John was deployed to the Republic of Vietnam, serving in Binh Dinh Province as a Pharmacist/Medic.   He was discharged as an E-5 on July 3, 1970. John often said, “I am proud to be an American, but prouder to be a Texan”.

John and Bobbie moved from Austin to Lubbock in 1975 and purchased Fee Pharmacy on 34th Street, and the Pharmacy was sold in 1989. John then worked as a pharmacist for the Lubbock State School from 1989-1998. John continued to do relief work throughout West Texas, before retiring in 2022 after 54 years as a pharmacist. John loved playing golf frequently until 2016, when cancer surgery made it no longer possible. John was a member of Christ the King Cathedral in Lubbock.

John had many friends that he loved and respected.  He wanted to take the opportunity to thank the following people for their friendship, Gene Rush, Levelland, Henry Ager, Livingston, Richard Wilhelm and Yoland Dollar, Brownwood and Roy Murray of Burnet; as well as other special friends Henry Domingues and family, Martha Bush and family, Ron and Jill Rogers and family, Nita Blackburn and the Spoon family, all of Lubbock.

John’s lifelong friends include Jan Shelton, Gatesville, Linda Schmeltekopf, Kyle, and his special college friend, Bill Klaeveman, Yorktown. Others he considered family are Ralph and Ann Schmidt, New Braunfels, Greg and Shelly Schmidt, Amarillo, and especially Leslie Schmidt, Houston, and David E. and Fran Ehler, Lubbock. He was blessed to have some special people in his life to influence his early education and dreams. Thank you to John P. Reesing RPH, and Jack Jackson Jr., both formerly of Gatesville.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife; his sisters, Doris DeMilia and Ellen Lam, and his brother, Gene Riley, all of Gatesville.

John is survived by his sons, David Riley and his wife, Megan and Jeff Riley and his wife, Lori, all of Dallas; his brother, Jim Riley and his wife, Linda of Bulverde; his granddaughters, Lilly, Bridgett and Violet Riley; his brothers-in-law, Jim Wagner and family of the Metroplex and Steve Wagner and family of San Marcos; his sister-in law,  Jerry Riley of Gatesville; and numerous nieces and nephews that he dearly loved.  John wanted to mention a special thanks to the Wagner Clan of DeWitt County, Texas for always being so welcoming all these years.

In lieu of flowers, and in consideration of having to travel, the family request that donations be made to Nordheim Cemetery or a charity of your choice.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.