Betty Jane Griffith Riling, 83, of St. Albans, lost a courageous battle with reoccurring breast cancer on May 15, 2007.
She entered this world on July 27, 1923 and was the eldest of ten born to James Kenneth “JK” Griffith and Breman Wood Griffith of Alum Creek. Betty graduated from Washington District High School where she won the Balfour Award for outstanding student. She then attended Morris Harvey College until she met and married her aunt’s milkman, “Bob” Robert L. Riling of G.C. Riling Dairy of South Charleston.
Betty was a talented individual who was an expert seamstress, musician, baker, and artist. She loved music and played the organ, piano, violin, accordion, mandolin, and dulcimer. She also sang in the choir and played the organ at Elizabeth Memorial Methodist Church, Charleston. Betty was a popular local artist that painted in acrylics, oils and watercolors. She participated in the Dogwood, Rhododendron, and Sorghum Festivals, along with the Loins Club Art and Craft Shows and was a member of the WV Watercolor Association. She was best known for painting on rocks.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Susan Maria Riling; sister, Faye; brother, Douglas; nephew, Jimmy and niece, Cindy.
She is survived by her devoted husband of 63 ½ years, Bob of South Charleston; son, Richard and (Carol) Riling of South Charleston; daughter, Katrina Riling of Charleston; two grandchildren, Wendy Riling Martin and Eric Riling; one great grandson, Jackson Martin; five sisters, Jewell Haddad of Charleston, Phyllis “Peg” Griffith of Alum Creek, Patty Dimock of Venice, Florida, Jeanette Rieck of Newtown Square, Pennsylvania and Carley Jo Means of Severna Park, Maryland; two brothers, Kenny Griffith of Hammond, Louisiana and Jack Griffith of Denton, Texas.
Services will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, May 18, 2007 at Curry Funeral Home, 2097 Childress Road, Alum Creek, with Rev. Charles “Chuck” Goddard and David Mullins officiating. Burial will be held in Graceland Memorial Park, South Charleston. Friends may call on Thursday from 6-8 PM at the funeral home.
The family would like to give a special thank you to the Braley Care Home staff, especially Terry, Donese and Nancy and Hospice nurses, Tammy and Darlene. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Hospice Care, 1143 Dunbar Avenue, Dunbar, WV 25064.