[Nfbwv-talk] More on John Riley

[Smyth, Charlene R]

John G. Riley, 82, of Clarksburg, WV, formerly of Augusta, WV passed
away on Saturday January 25, 2014.

He was born on October 5, 1931, in Augusta, WV to the late Harry G. &
Kathryn (Beery) Riley.

He is survived by two brothers, Harry G. Riley (Mary) of Crestview,
Florida, Sammy Riley (Barbara) of Augusta, WV and one sister, Linda
Riley Wilson (Steve) of Winchester, VA and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, William (Bill) Riley and
Robert B. Riley.
John attended Central Christian Church (Disciples) in Clarksburg, WV for
55 years, and he was a member of the Augusta Church of Christ.
(Disciples)

John was the valedictorian of his class at the WV School for the Deaf
and Blind. He graduated cum laude from West Virginia University with a
BS in Business Administration. He also earned two Master's Degrees in
History and English and Rehabilitation Counseling. He had Advanced
Academic Training in Rehabilitation Counseling at Virginia Commonwealth
University and the West Virginia Rehabilitation Counseling Department.

John was a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor by the National
Rehabilitation Counseling Association and certified as a Licensed West
Virginia Professional Counselor. He was a former President of the WV
Chapter of National Rehabilitation Association and of the Regional
Rehabilitation Counseling Association. He was a Career Rehabilitation
Counselor in West Virginia for 45 years until his retirement in 2001.
John was recognized as a leading counselor for the blind in the United
States. He established the first ocular prosthetic clinic for the blind
in Clarksburg and Morgantown, West Virginia. During this time, he
established performance records in the number of blind rehabilitation
clients in the state of West Virginia and the nation.
John initiated the concept "Career Rehab Counselor" that was adapted by
the West Virginia Rehabilitation Agency. He was responsible for
establishing and maintaining leadership and records in the Harley B.
Reiger Foundation that provides external services to blind individuals,
as well as other disability groups in all of the West Virginia colleges,
WVU, and the services for the blind at this Rehab Center and also at the
Pittsburg Guild for the Blind. John provided rehabilitation services for
the blind in the 30 northern counties of West Virginia.

John was musically talented in playing the piano, guitar, banjo,
mandolin and ukulele. As an alumnus of West Virginia University, he was
an avid Mountaineer fan. He also enjoyed the financial challenges of
keeping up to date with the stock market activities. John's life was
spent being a servant to others.

Funeral services will be held on Friday January 31, 2014 at 11:00 A.M.
at McKee Funeral Home Chapel, Augusta, WV with Rev. Del Parris and
Pastor Leonard Ludwick officiating. Interment will follow in Augusta
Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Thursday evening 6:00-9:00
P.M. at the funeral home. A memorial service will be held at the Central
Christian Church (Disciples) in Clarksburg at a later date.

Memorials may be made to Central Christian Church (Disciples), 114 S.
Chestnut Street, Clarksburg, WV 26301; or Augusta Church of Christ
(Disciples , ATTN: Janet Shingleton, P.O. Box 132, Augusta, WV, 26704 or
People's Hospice United Hospital Center, 327 Medical Park Drive,
Bridgeport, WV, 26330.

All arrangements are being handled by McKee Funeral Home, Augusta, WV.