Mr. Haskell F. Riley

Haskell F. Riley received his final promotion August 23, 2013. Born May 29, 1922 he was the son of the late Robert Samuel and Rose Lee Watson Riley of Hartsville. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 57 years Tinsy Perdue Riley. He is also predeceased by siblings Jessie, Melvin, Wes, Addie Mae, Henry, Roy, Robbie, Jim and Hazel. He joined the National Guard at age 18. Two days later he was mobilized with the 118th Infantry Division from Hartsville. After basic training, he was shipped overseas and attached as a rifleman to the 99th Infantry Division, the 395th Infantry Regiment which saw some of the fiercest fighting during the Battle of the Bulge. Prior to that he was stationed in Iceland, then England, then Ireland, and then back to England where he helped trained troops for the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Sgt. Riley received the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Bronze Star, WWII Defense Service Medal, the WWII Victory Medal, and the Theater Campaign Medal with four stars (Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe). After the war he met and married his lifelong partner, worked at Dupont in Richmond and later returned to Hartsville where he and his wife owned and operated The Thrift Shop, the Center Restaurant and the Family Kitchen Restaurant. After retiring from the restaurant business he worked for Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Home. He and his wife returned to the food service business where they managed the Cafeteria at Emmanuel Christian School for three years. Whether the war in Europe, building restaurant businesses, serving his Lord through Emmanuel Baptist Church, raising his two daughters, or serving as the primary caregiver for his wife for more than nine years, he did all with a cheerfulness and integrity that leaves a legacy to be imitated. He was truly a member of the greatest generation. He is survived by his daughters Theresa (Wayne) Cash of Hartsville and Snookie (Al) Barnett of Rockwall, Texas, grandchildren Chantel (Buddy) Mayton of Winston-Salem. NC, Christopher (Laura) Cash of Cibolo, Texas, Matthew (Suzanne) Cash of Florence, SC., Patrick (Leslie) Cash of Lexington,NC., Shannon (Dave) Isom of Campbell, Tex., Kent (Corey) of Rockwall, Tex., and Monica (Eric) Stock of Forny, Tex. Great-grandchildren are Andrew and Jordan Mayton, Kyle, Madison, Ethan, Ian, and Evan Cash, Riley, Emma, Levy Isom, Samantha and Trey Barnett, and Erica and Mica Stock. Haskell dealt with Alzheimer’s disease for nine years. Though often frustrated with his disease, he somehow never ceased to be a true southern Christian gentleman. His last whispered words to his family were “I love you.” He was a good soldier to the very end. Family visitation is Monday, August 26, 2013 from 5 to7 at Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Home and a celebration of his life at 4:00 pm on Tuesaday, August 27, 2013 at Emmanuel Baptist Church with interment following in Magnolia Cemetery. Sons-in-law, the Rev. Wayne Cash and the Rev. Al Barnett will officiate. Memorials may be made to Emmanuel Baptist Church, 949 North Marquis Hwy., Hartsville SC or the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Ave., 7th fl., New York, NY 10001.

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Mr. Haskell F. Riley

May 29, 1922 - August 23, 2013