June Ellen Crumpacker Rieley, cherished wife of Joseph Gish Rieley and mother of Wayne and Donald, passed away peacefully May 28, 2025. She spent her 98 years on this earth loving her family and friends with a positive attitude, a deep faith and a song in her heart. Many of those who spent time with her came away saying they felt better for the visit. They loved her fun spirit and happy tales of times gone by. She loved people, pure and simple. We are so thankful that she was able to enjoy the simple moments that gave her peace these past few years – nature drives through the countryside, lunch outings with her dear friends, and the comforting church services she faithfully watched each Sunday after she was no longer able to drive. These moments were among her favorites and a reflection of her love of beauty, friendship and faith.
Born in Roanoke to Dessie Boothe Crumpacker and Vernon Kinzie Crumpacker of Botetourt County, June was the middle daughter between Anne and Louise. She told many stories of working and playing with her sisters in their parents’ orchard where they grew apples and peaches to sell at market and even remembers traveling to Florida for the few years that they owned an avocado farm. She grew up in the communities of Cloverdale, Coyner Springs and Blue Ridge, where she went to school and graduated from Colonial High School in Blue Ridge. After high school, June briefly worked at Old Dominion Candies and Roanoke Webster Brick before marrying Joe Rieley on Aug. 31, 1951. They lived in Gastonia, North Carolina, where Wayne was born, and in Columbus, Indiana, where Joe ran an engineering training school for Cummins Diesel. They returned to Bridgewater, and after Joe graduated from Bridgewater College, he accepted a position teaching mathematics at Virginia Tech, Donald was born, and Blacksburg became their permanent home.
June’s primary focus was making sure her family was healthy, happy and well fed. She loved to cook, and the holidays have always been especially important for her to celebrate with traditions that the boys remember and recreate still today. She also volunteered for the Christiansburg Church of the Brethren in a number of leadership roles and for the district office of the church.
June is survived by her son, Wayne Rieley, his wife, Karen Rieley, their daughter, Austin Rieley, her husband, Brendan Haney, and their daughter, Carter Haney, all of Jacksonville, Florida; her son, Donald Rieley, and his husband, Jake Altizer Rieley, of Hoges Chapel, Virginia; Jake’s son, Jake Altizer, and his partner, Kodi McCall, of Las Vegas, Nevada. She is also survived by a first cousin, Rev. David Rogers (Shirley); nieces Donna Ashe (Lowell), Karen Guignard (John), Rhonda Lee (Mike) and Shawn Osborn (Will); and nephew Mike Deel. Visitation was Sunday, June 8, at McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg. The celebration of June’s life was held Monday, June 9, at the Christiansburg Church of the Brethren, Christiansburg.
