Lt. Colonel Gladys Ruth Miller Riley was born to Brigadiers William and Freda Miller. She met her husband at the Tacoma Corps and they were married in November 1951. She retired in June 1995.

Gladys Ruth Miller was born in Bellingham, WA on August 14, 1931. Born to Brigadier William and Freda Miller, Gladys was one of three children which included her brother Bill and sister Grace.

Dave and Gladys met in Tacoma, WA while he was in the military and attending the Tacoma Corps. They married there in November of 1951, just after his honorable discharge from the US Army. They spent the following years in New York before returning to the Southern California area. They were living in San Diego before they entered The Salvation Army Training School in San Francisco in January of 1959. Gladys and David were blessed with four children: David, Sheryl, Terri and Doug. Together with their family, they were commissioned as officers in June of 1959 in the Pioneers Session.

Lieutenants Riley were appointed to the Inglewood Citadel Corps where they spent three successful years of ministry together followed by two years at the Santa Ana Corps. They loved their corps ministries and were wonderful Corps Officers.

Following Santa Ana, they were stationed in the Southwest Divisional Headquarters where Gladys’ appointments were Guard and Sunbeam Director and then Assistant Home League Secretary. Four years later, they were assigned to Southern California Division where Gladys was Assistant Home League Secretary and then Home League Secretary in the Northern California Division. Following San Francisco, they spent a short time at THQ before moving to Tucson as the County Coordinators. It is here that the Rileys entered a ministry that they loved deeply, the Men’s Social Services where Gladys was the Director of Special Services. She loved and found great fulfillment in helping those dealing with addictions find release.

From the Men’s Social Services, the Rileys were appointed as Divisional Leaders of the Cascade and then Southern California Division. Gladys became the Director of Women’s Services in their respective appointments until their final appointment as Divisional Leaders, opening the Sierra Del Mar Division. They retired from active officership in June of 1995, concluding 36 years of faithful service as Salvation Army officers.

In retirement, Gladys found her ministry and remained active in the Santee Thrift Store until last April at the age of 92. She spent 28 years serving others at the Santee Thrift Store, caring for those who came in through the doors, making friends wherever she went and loving people with her positive outlook and caring spirit. You would often find her attending Wednesday night chapels down at the ARC. She simply loved this ministry.

Gladys always wrote encouraging cards to everyone in every appointment, thank you notes for even the smallest things, and would care for anyone and everyone she met. She often would sneak a quarter into the officer children’s hands when their parents weren’t looking. She was known for her love for those most vulnerable and unloved by others and was an advocate for all.

Next to her love for Jesus, she fiercely loved her family, her four children, fourteen grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. Always wanting each of them to love Jesus and to be happy in life, she spent countless hours praying for, encouraging and supporting each one and giving them a little money when their parents weren’t looking.

Lt. Colonel Gladys Riley will be deeply missed by all because of her deep impact and spirited love, especially by those who called her Mom and Grandma. There is a deep sense of loss of a woman who prayed for each one and was a beacon of light in their lives.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, October 19, 2024, at 1:00 pm at The Salvation Army El Cajon Corps – 1025 E Main Street, El Cajon, CA 92021.

Streaming of the service will be available on YouTube and will be found at The Salvation Army East County Red Shield Community Center.

It is the wish of the family that, in lieu of flowers, donations are made to the Calvary Chapel Food Pantry Fund, 7525 El Cajon Blvd., La Mesa CA. 91942, in memory of Gladys Riley.

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