Rieley, Joseph Gish

Joseph G. (Joe) Rieley, 82, of Blacksburg, Va., passed away Tuesday, March 17, 2009. He was born June 28, 1926, in Botetourt County, son of the late Walter Raleigh and Gladys Garst Rieley.

Joe was retired from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University where he was a math professor for 30 years. Prior to Virginia Tech, he taught at Cumming Engine Company and North Carolina State College. He attended Virginia Tech and was graduated from Bridgewater College.

A lifelong member of the Church of the Brethren, he served on the Standing Committee of the Church’s Annual Conference and was a member of the Virlina District Board. He served as a trustee, deacon, commission member, choir member and adult Sunday School class teacher at Christiansburg Church of the Brethren, where he had been a member since 1955. He had also served as a trustee of Bridgewater College.

Many of Joe’s neighbors, friends, relatives and even strangers benefited from Joe’s handyman skills. He fixed thousands of used bicycles that the Thrift Store in Blacksburg and Christmas Store in Christiansburg gave to people in need.

He is survived by June Crumpacker Rieley, his wife of 57 years; son, Robert Wayne Rieley and his wife, Karen Johnson Rieley, of Jacksonville, Fla.; granddaughter, Austin Knowles Rieley, of Hickory, N.C.; Kim and David Watson and their girls, Elizabeth and Abby, of Middletown, Del.; and son, Donald Glenn Rieley; E. Jake Altizer and his son, Jake Ryan Altizer, of Pembroke, Va.

Funeral services will be held 1:30 p.m. on Friday, March 20, 2009, at Christiansburg Church of the Brethren, 310 S. Franklin St., with the Rev. Don Peters officiating. Interment will follow at 3:30 p.m. in Evergreen Burial Park, 1307 Summit Ave., S.W., Roanoke, Va. The family will receive friends and family on Thursday, March 19, 2009, from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. at the McCoy Funeral Home, 150 Country Club Dr., S.W., Blacksburg, Va.