Walter James Riley

Notes:

North Tonawnada NY, January 7, 1966, page 1:

Headline and article, Walter Riley Dies; Chairman of Board of NT Gear Firm.

Walter J. Riley, 78, of 35 Columbia Blvd., Kenmore, a veteran gear manufacturer, died early today at him home after a heart attack.

Mr. Riley was chairman of the board of the Riley Gear Corp., 61 Felton St., North Tonawanda.

He was stricken ill at his home shortly before 1:30 a.m. and died despite efforts of a Kenmore Volunteer Fire Department first aid squad.

A Kenmore resident 36 years, Mr. Riley was born in Lockport, and was a graduate of Lockport High School.

His first work was at the Covert Gear Co. in his home city, where he was one of the founders of the Dittmer Gear Corp., manufacturers of gears for the automotive industry. He left the Ditmer form for the Olive Gear Corp., Buffalow, which he managed for more than 20 years before he founded his own company with his son, Donald W. Riley, at North Tonawanda in 1946.

On Jan 12, 1962, the Fine Pitch Gear Corp. and the Riley Gear Corp., operating at the same Felton Street location in North Tonawanda, were merged and Mr. Riley became chairman of the board of directors in the company bearing the Riley name. His son, Donald W. Riley, succeeded him as president.

Mr. Riley was a member of the Kenmore Baptist Church and the Rotary Club of the Tonawandas. He was a director of the Town Club of the Tonawandas.

On Oct 27, 1965, he was cited with Walter E. Kempa, business manager of the Delaware-Sheridan Office of the Buffalo Savings Bank, for excellent public relations for a business establishmen. The Business and Professional Women's Club cited the two men.

He also was chairman of the Cancer Drive in North Tonawanda in 1958.

Survivors include is widow, the former Mabel Striffler, his son, Donald W. Riley; a daughter, Mrs. Harley G. Styer, a sister, Mrs. Edward Kurth and three grandchildren, Karen E. Riley, Larry E. and Diane L. Styer.

The Bury Funeral Home, Kenmore, is completing funeral arrangements.

(Courtesy of Judith Muck)

Walter married Mabel E. Striffler in Jun 1914 in New York. Mabel (daughter of John B. Striffler and Ida E. Leinbach) was born on 21 Nov 1887 in New York; died on 3 Feb 1976 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York; was buried in Elm Lawn Cemetery, Tonawanda, Erie County, New York. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]