Roberta Jo 'Bertie' Riley
Roberta Jo “Bertie” Riley, 93, of Greenfield, passed away Monday, April 3, 2023, at Adena Greenfield Medical Center.
She was born on Thursday, May 2, 1929, in Greenfield, a daughter of the late Burnace Adrian “Bud” and Vivian Viola Little Humphreys.
On October 21, 1946, Roberta married Hayward C. Riley, who preceded her in death on Feb. 8, 2016.
Bertie was a member of the 1947 class of Edward Lee McClain High School. She later attended Middletown Business School while her husband worked at Armco Steel. She received her bachelor’s degree in education from Ohio University and her master’s degree from The Ohio State University. She was an educator in Greenfield for over 30 years. She developed the BASC Care, a childcare program. Bertie was a member of First United Methodist Church of Greenfield, where she also served as a trustee, and was a member of the Highland County University Women. She also served as a board member on the Highland County Children Services.
She is survived by one son, Michael Riley of Galion and one daughter, Lorita “Lori” Riley of Greenfield; two grandchildren, Matthew (Amber) Riley and Marijo (Brian) Rickel; three great-grandchildren, Natalie Riley, Carrigan Rickel and Bianca Rickel; a foster child, Christine Jones of Columbus; and several nieces and nephews.
Bertie was preceded in death by her daughter-in-law, Micki Riley; one sister, Nancy E. Foltz; one brother, Leonard D. Humphreys; and her stepmother, Matilda I. Pullins Humphreys.
A funeral service will be held on Monday, April 17 at 1 p.m. in the Anderson-Ebright Funeral Home in Greenfield with Pastor Terry Washburn and Pastor Susan Keeton officiating. Following the service, she will be laid to rest beside her husband, Hayward, in the Greenfield Cemetery.
Bertie’s family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday from 11 a.m. until the time of the service. Those who wish to share a memory of Bertie and sign her online register book may do so at www.ebrightfuneralhome.com.