Barbara M. Riles

Barbara (Morse) Riles, 98, passed away on Thursday, March 18, 2010, at Sterling House Assisted Living of Tavares, Florida. She was born March 5, 1912, in Lebanon, NH, the daughter of Frank C. Morse and Nellie M. (Vieu) Morse. She was graduated from Lebanon High School in June 1930. On December 28, 1951, she was married to Zelah S. Riles. They celebrated 32 years together until his death in 1993. Barbara attended the University of New Hampshire for two years and Southern Brothers Business College, Florida. She was bookkeeper and stenographer for J.C. Pereno Engineering Company for five years, after which time she was employed by Intercontinent Corporation in the payroll department and soon after was employed by the Dade County Public School System as Assistant Supervisor for Accounting, retiring in 1967. Her greatest enjoyment was dancing, reading and travel. Because of her passion for travel, Barbara read Stoddard Lectures for book reports in high school. After retiring she and her husband toured Ireland and Scotland. They traveled in their camper to Alaska, twice, crossing the Arctic Circle. In 1972 they moved from Miami to Tavares and began their camping travels of all forty-eight states. In addition, they took cruises to Hawaii, the Panama Canal, Columbia, South America, Venezuela, Aruba, Jamaica, and Cozumel. They also traveled in their camper two times to the Maritime Provinces, including Newfoundland, and all of Canada. She was a great listener and enjoyed hearing about the life experiences of the people they met. She always had loving and devoted interest in every member of her family. Barbara was a life long member of the First Congregational Church of Lebanon, New Hampshire. She was predeceased by her husband, Zelah S. Riles, her brother Harold M. Morse, Sr. and her nephew, Harold M. Morse, Jr. Survivors include several great-nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews, great-great-great nieces and nephews, and friends. In keeping with her wishes, there will be no formal ceremony. Interment will be at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida on Thursday, March 25, 2010 at 11:00 AM. Memorial contributions may be made to Cornerstone Hospice, 2445 Lane Park Rd., Tavares, FL 32778 or Sterling House Assisted Living, Attn: Deborah Flaherty, Exec. Dir., 2232 Dora Avenue, Tavares, FL 32778 Arrangements are in the care of Harden/Pauli Funeral Home, Eustis, Florida – Telephone 904-357-4126.