Mr. Donald Riley, 95, passed away on July 23, 2022 after a brief hospital stay.  He was born in Penn, PA, served in the Navy in World War II, then graduated with a Masters in Aeronautical Engineering from Penn State in 1949.  Don was a career NASA engineer contributing research and authoring more than forty research studies and publications in both aviation and space exploration.   One of the highlights of his career was working with the astronauts on docking simulations for the Gemini Space Program.  After his retirement in 1995, he became a Distinguished Research Associate with NASA and continued his research until he was 90.  Mr. Riley loved his work and could often be found sharing his enthusiasm for the space program with unsuspecting acquaintances asking them if they knew how Mercury Boulevard got its name or how many astronauts walked on the moon.   He was a member of St Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic Church for over 70 years.

Don was preceded in death by his parents Francis and Theresia Riley of Uniontown PA, his beloved wife Agnes of 60 years, his sisters (and brothers-in-law) Dorothy (Harry) Kinter, June (Ed) Emmett and Eileen (Jim) Rush.

He is survived by his children, Pat (Elaine) Riley of Poquoson VA, Terri (Mike deceased) Mares, Mike (Ann) Riley of Hampton VA, Kathy (Mike) Dickens of Marietta GA, Frank(Janet) Riley of Ft Worth TX and Margaret (Keith) Degnan of Mechanicsville VA.  His grandchildren Sean (Laura) Riley, Mike (Kelly) Riley, Chris (Laurie) Riley, Stephen (Natalie) Riley, Bobby (Tina) Mares, Carol Mares, Tom (Natalie) Mares, Sara (Brian) Yohn, Wes (Sheryl) Riley, Greg Riley, Susan (Lee) Ridgway and 17 great grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 29th at R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home in downtown Hampton.  Preceding the funeral liturgy on Saturday, the Holy Rosary will be said at 10:30 a.m. at St Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic Church.  Immediately following at 11 a.m., a Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated by Rev Dan Molochko.   Interment will follow at Parklawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St Mary's Star of the Sea School (14 N. Willard Ave, Hampton VA 23663) where his wife Agnes, his six children, several grandchildren and great grandchildren attended.

Arrangements are by R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home, 245 S. Armistead Ave., in Hampton, 757-723-3191.