lit a candle 1d agoI just read his obituary on my lunch break and I can't stop thinking about it. 84 years old, flew planes his whole life, lost his wife June before him. Rest easy, Terry.
Their story
Terence Francis Riley Jr., known to those close to him as Terry, was a private American citizen whose death at age 84 was announced through an obituary published by Bucktrout of Williamsburg Funeral Service in Williamsburg, Virginia. He was not a public figure in the sense of holding elected office…
Terence Francis Riley Jr., known to those close to him as Terry, was a private American citizen whose death at age 84 was announced through an obituary published by Bucktrout of Williamsburg Funeral Service in Williamsburg, Virginia. He was not a public figure in the sense of holding elected office or achieving national fame, but his passing has been publicly recorded and is documented here because it is the subject of searches and news aggregation under his name.
Terry was born on January 8, 1942, in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Terence Francis Riley and Kathryn Louise Riley. According to his obituary, he was a military veteran and went on to have what is described as an accomplished career as a business professional, though the specific branch of service, unit, years of service, and the nature of his civilian career have not been detailed in the sources available.
Aviation was the defining passion of Terry's life outside his family and work. He held a pilot's license and had been a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association since 1976. After moving to Virginia he became active in the Tidewater aviation community, serving as president of the Tidewater Flying Club and taking part in the Williamsburg Eagles Chapter of the Virginia Aeronautical Historical Society and Chapter 156 of the Experimental Aircraft Association in Hampton Roads. Those who knew him described a man who found joy in flying, in talking about aircraft, and in sharing that enthusiasm with others.
His obituary also describes him as someone with a broad intellectual curiosity that extended beyond his career and his love of flying, and as a man dedicated to his Catholic faith who was actively involved in parish life. He was an avid sports fan who followed baseball, football and hockey and cheered for his home teams.
Terry was preceded in death by his wife, June Deanna Gray Riley. He died on October 29, 2026, at the age of 84. He is survived by his three children, Andrea Megan Riley, Rosemarie Katherine Riley, and Terence F. Riley III, and by his granddaughter, Maple June McMillian. His place of death and the cause of death have not been made public.
Biography adapted from News reports and the sources cited on this page; death reported by Legacy | Obituary.
same, it popped up on my feed out of nowhere and I teared up a little