Sam Riojas age 80 of Greenville died unexpectedly on Tuesday December 9, 2008 at Spectrum Health Butterworth Campus Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was born on January 16,1928 in Gonzalas, Texas the son of Doroteo and Sarita Ruiz Riojas and was raised in the Lakeview area.
He was a veteran of the US Army serving in the Military Police and receiving the WWII Victory Medal. He was a life member of the VFW Lester J. Sitts Post 5065 of
Sheridan and a retiree of Federal Mogul in Greenville with 34 years of service. He was a member for many years of St. Charles Catholic Church, Greenville. He married Adelaine M. Robinson in Lakeview on February 13, 1950.
Preceding him in death were his son Johnny Lee Riojas in 1968 and also his parents and several brothers and sisters.
Surviving are his wife Adelaine of Greenville his daughter Linda Riojas Klepper and her husband Randy Klepper of Greenville, granddaughters, Tammy Klepper and her husband Joe Pellagrom of Grand Rapids, Wendy and Scott McCullough of Bozeman, Montana and Cindy Douglas of Belding and several great grandchildren, his sisters Ollie Zuniga of Saginaw and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Dixie Gruber of Greenville, Beatrice Nienhuis of Huntington Beach, CA, Barbara and Bill Tuinhoff of Belding, Gertrude and Wes Mazurek of Portage, Edward and Marie Anderson of Greenville, Jack and Pat Robinson of Twin Lake, MI and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Friday at 1 PM at Hurst Funeral Home with Rev. Father Phil Salmonowicz officiating. Burial will be in St. Charles Cemetery, Greenville. Visitation will begin at 12 Noon on Friday prior to the funeral. Military Honors will be provided by the VFW Post# 5065 of Sheridan.
