



Obituary of Theron John Riley, Sr.
Theron John Riley, Sr. was born May 24, 1948, in Camden, New Jersey. He was the third of eleven children born to the union of the late John Thomas Riley and Velma Andrew Neveu Riley. He was called from labor to reward on January 29, 2025.
Theron was reared in East Berlin, NJ where he was affectionately called by the nicknames,‘Man’, ‘Big Man’or ‘Man Riley’. He received his elementary education at the Assumption School, Atco, NJ and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School located in Berlin Borough, NJ. Afterwards, he attended Camden Catholic High School in Cherry Hill, NJ where he served as a member of the school’s Spiritual Committee as well as a pole vaulter on the track team. Upon
graduating in 1967, he matriculated to the Spring Garden Institute, a private technical college in Philadelphia, PA. where he was a member of the basketball team.
On August 6, 1969, he was inducted in the United States Army. He was Honorably Discharged on August 13, 1971, and joined the US Army Reserve for a period of two years. While enlisted,
he received the Rifle M-14 Marksmanship Badge and Rifle M-16 Marksmanship Badge as ‘Sharpshooter’ and the National Defense Service Medal. He left the Reserves on August 5, 1975.
Shortly thereafter, he became mesmerized by a young lady named Delores Smith, whom he eventually chose to be his wife. They were soulmates and were married on October 12, 1974.
They resided in East Berlin and remained true to their vows for over 50 years. Together, they raised their two children, Niecy and Theron, Jr. in a loving home, along with his young brother-
in-law, Cornell, whom he treated as a son.
Theron was a family man and faithfully provided for their needs. He was employed as a Lineman at Atlantic City Electric for over 31 years before retiring in 2006. He was an avid outdoorsman. He loved hunting, fishing, crabbing, walking on the beach with Delores and spending time on his boats ‘Big Man’ and ‘Long A Coming’.
As a youth, he was a member of the Sons of the American Legion. As a veteran, he was an active member of American Legion Post #357, Berlin, NJ and later American Legion Post # 286, Pine Hill, NJ. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and served on the board of the East Berlin Memorial Cemetery Association.
Theron was preceded in death by his loving parents; John and Velma Riley, his sister, Hedwig Owens, and brothers; Kermit and Erick Riley. He leaves to cherish his memory his devoted wife; Delores, his children; LaNiece M (Turon), and Theron Jr. (Danielle), three grandchildren; Jerica, Theron, III and Janey Riley, four great-grandchildren; Cherish, Zachariah, True, and Amora Riley, siblings; Cassandre Wallace, Cynthia Riley, Merlin (Stephanie) Riley, Kevin Riley, Joan (Elias) Villalobos, Bertrand (Donna) Riley, and Elva (William) Christian, sister-in-law; Gwendolyn Mitchell, brother-in-law; Cornell Woods and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and
friends.
Lovingly Submitted,
The Family
Viewing
Funeral Mass
Interment

In Loving Memory
Theron Riley, Sr.
1948 - 2025
755 White Horse Pike
Atco, New Jersey 08004
Phone:(856) 336-2078
Fax: (856) 336-2098
Kimberly L. Washington, Manager, N.J. Lic. No. 5224