Hayward Clayton Riley

Hayward Clayton Riley, 91, of Greenfield, passed away at home on Monday, Feb. 8, 2016.

He was born in Greenfield on Oct. 8, 1924, the son of Jacob Shively S. and Maude Katherine Staats Riley.

A 1942 graduate of McClain High School, Hayward volunteered induction in the U.S. Army in October 1942. He served for 31 months in the South Pacific, taking part in second waves and cleanup in the fighting as the Japanese were pushed back toward their homeland island by island: Guadalcanal, Leyte, Bougainville, Luzon, Los Negros, as well as New Caledonia, Samar and Calicoan.

Upon returning from World War II in January 1946, Hayward returned to work for John Smith at the Eavey’s IGA where he had worked during high school. On Oct. 21, 1946, he married Roberta Jo Humphreys at the Methodist Church in Greenup, Ky.

In the summer of 1947, he was hired by the Armco steel mill in Middletown, Ohio, with the help of Joe Woodruff, head of chemical research at Armco, who had been Hayward’s high school chemistry teacher. Hayward returned to Greenfield in 1948 and entered training as a store manager on the GI Bill for Hy Tennenbaum at the United Department Store.

When the Washington Court House Armco plant opened in 1950, he was the fifth man hired and remained there for 30-plus years, working as a die-maker, rolling mill operator and department foreman. 

Following his retirement from Armco in 1981, Hayward worked in real estate and as an independent mortgage services representative. For a number of years, he was a familiar figure as a dedicated walker about town each morning.

He was a member of the Greenfield First Baptist Church, a life member of the Greenfield VFW Post 4736; a member of the Concerned Veterans of Greenfield, serving in the Honor Guard as long as he was able; a 32nd degree Mason; a member of the Washington Shrine Club and the Aladdin Shrine Temple; a former member of the Community Improvement Corporation; the B.P.O. Elks; and the Greenfield Lions Club.    

He was preceded in death by his parents; seven brothers, Harold, Rex, Hubert, Carlton, Channing, Donald and Herschel; and six sisters, Fern Emmitt, Marguerite Smith, Dixie Dreher, Hyacinth George, Claire Shaw and Mona Fout.
Hayward is survived by his wife; son Michael Riley (Micki) of Galion; daughter Lorita Riley of Greenfield; grandson Matthew Riley (Aleia) and granddaughter Marijo (Brian) Rickel, all of Cleveland; three great-granddaughters, Natalie Riley of Argyle, Texas and Cleveland and Carrigan and Bianca Rickel of Cleveland; and many special nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 12, in the Anderson-Ebright Funeral Home, Greenfield with Rev. Kevin Hall and Rev. Terry Washburn officiating. Burial will follow in Greenfield Cemetery, where military honors will be accorded by the Concerned Veterans of Greenfield. Friends may visit with the Riley family on Thursday from 4-8 p.m. at the funeral home. A Masonic service will be held at 7:30 p.m,. followed by a veterans appreciation service by the Concerned Veterans of Greenfield.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Concerned Veterans of Greenfield c/o: James Walker, 232 Edgewood Avenue, Greenfield, Ohio 45123.

Those wishing to sign his online Book of Memories may do so at www.ebrightfuneralhome.com.