Marilyn Riley

Marilyn Riley, age 93 of Hilton Head, South Carolina passed away May 7, 2022.

Preceded in death by her husband Robert Riley, her parents Theodore and Ellen Trumbull, brothers Robert Trumbull and sister Dorthea McCune. Marilyn is survived by her loving sons Scott and Brad (Stephanie) Riley. She married Robert in 1969 and was very close to his 4 children from a previous marriage. Kevin (deceased) Kathleen, Mary Jane, and Roberta. Also survived by her grandchildren Travis Wallick (Ashlee) Chattanooga, TN, Nicole Stone, Chicago, IL, Hayden, Harrison and Emerson Riley of Hilton Head, Kinyan Connelly of Hilton Head, her special niece Carol McCune and many great grandchildren, as well as other nieces and nephews.

Marilyn graduated from South High School in Columbus, Ohio. She retired from Ameritech as a Traffic Manager after 39 years. She was a member of St. Agatha Catholic Church, Upper Arlington, Ohio where she initiated and managed the Bereavement Committee.  As an active member of AT&T Pioneers in 2010 she was honored with the Pioneer Life Member Award. Marilyn spent many hours volunteering for many organizations, to mention just a couple, St. Vincent DePaul and St. Stephens Community House. She was instrumental in bringing community awareness to the needs of the developmentally challenged. Marilyn truly had a talent in the kitchen. Always trying new recipes for her husband. When she made a recipe he especially liked, Robert would shout out “Keeper!” After his passing she made a book of his favorites and sent it to his relatives. To quote her granddaughter Ashlee “To eat a meal made by grandma was to receive a true gift of love. The way she could gather her family around the table, who would come from near and far, was absolutely stunning. Her center pieces were a show of their own. Grandma taught us to take pride in ourselves, and be generous with our time. She took pride in her days and worked hard turning lemons into beautiful tarts, with a homemade crust of course. I’ll be forever grateful for the many lessons learned in her kitchen.  I will carry on her love of cooking and gift of hospitality. I hope to live out the selfless love I learned from watching her everyday life. Grandma truly is a “keeper”. She will be greatly missed by her family and all those whose lives she touched.”

The family will hold a private service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Programs for Exceptional People (PEP).

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