Mendel Riley, 59, of Champaign, a native of Parkersburg, was electrocuted Sunday morning, July 20, 1969 at Leverett Park, a suburb of Champaign.

Riley, who was the owner of several trailers in a trailer park at Leverett was found about noon yesterday. It was believed that he had been electrocuted between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. He had crawled under a trailer to replace some fuses. In so doing, he is believed to have come in contact with a “live” wire and his body was also touching a gas line while under the trailer.

Riley was born at Parkersburg on April 11, 1910, the son of the late Ben F. Riley and Mrs. Fern Riley, now of Champaign. His father was station agent at Parkersburg for many years and later was transferred to Sullivan. Riley attended school at Parkersburg and later graduated from the Olney Township High School in 1928. He was considered an outstanding musician and trombonist. Later he attended Illinois Wesleyan University at Bloomington, where he obtained his bachelor’s degree and later his master’s degree. He became music instructor at Champaign High School in 1934 and later became director of music at Champaign High School where he remained until 1964. He then resigned to enter business and had operated a music store on Neal Street in Champaign until the time of his death.

Funeral services at Mittendorf Funeral Home in Champaign with Rev. Jack North in charge. Burial in Woodlawn Cemetery in Urbana.

Mr. Riley is survived by his wife, Dorothy;  son, James Riley of Baldwin, Mo.; a daughter, Mrs. Carolyn Bergeron of Columbus, Ohio and four grandchildren.  His mother, Mrs. Fern Riley of Champaign also survives.

A sister, Argyle Riley died in 1936.

He was a member of the First Methodist Church at Champaign and the Exchange Club and had also served on the Champaign Public Library Board.

Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL) - July 20, 1969