Clarence B. Riker

Clarence B. Riker, Jr. known as "Bill" or "CB", age 94, died on Monday, March 3, 2014 at his home in Cedar Grove, NJ. He was born August, 27, 1919 in West Orange, New Jersey and was the youngest of three children born to Clarence B. Riker and Clara Emily Riker. He graduated from West Orange High School in NJ and had two years of business training at Drake Business School.

As a young man, Bill was involved with the Boy Scouts of America and helping his father with a part-time business as a beekeeper. His business career started early as he also sold watercress to local residents.

Bill was inducted into the Army in 1941 as a Private. In 1942, he completed OCS and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant and promoted to 1st Lieutenant in 1943. In 1944, he joined the 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division (Big Red One) in the UK. He served in the Army as an Infantry Unit Commander in the assault landing on Omaha Beach, D-Day and in battle campaigns in Normandy, northern France, Belgium and Germany. His military honors include a Bronze Star, Purple Heart with an Oak Leaf Cluster, a Presidential Unit Citation, a European, African, Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with arrowhead and four bronze battle stars, along with other service awards. He was honorably discharged in 1953 as an Officer in the Army Reserves and is a life member of The Society of The First Infantry Division.

During his career, Bill became a President of the NJ Blue Print Association, a President of the Eastern Region Reprographics Association and a President of the Rotary Club of Irvington. In 1989 Bill retired from the Hudson Reprographics Co. Inc., Irvington, NJ, as Vice President and part-owner.

As an avid fan of the Giants football team, Bill was proud to have been involved in the printing of all architectural drawings for the original Giants football stadium in the Meadowlands, NJ. He became a season ticket holder in 1976, attending the first game in the new stadium and rarely missed a game in the ensuing years. Being a sports enthusiast, he enjoyed many hours of playing tennis and golf. He was also the first President of the West Orange Mountain High School Booster Club.

Bill and his wife, Isabel, relished family gatherings and events. Together they traveled across the USA and overseas. He also took great pride in tending his yard and garden in North Caldwell. Bill is a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of the Northeastern Shrine in Livingston, NJ.

Bill is survived by Isabel M. Riker (nee Hayner), his loving and devoted wife and partner of 71 years of marriage. Bill was predeceased by his two sisters, Ethel Owens and Phyllis Newman. He leaves behind his son, Glenn E. Riker and wife Barbara of Chamberlain, ME; daughter Barbara L. Rauschenberger and husband John of Verona, NJ; grandchildren, Keira L. Claffey, Kristian J. Rauschenberger and wife Carrie, Rebecca P. Butler and husband Russ, Timothy E. Rauschenberger and wife Tracy; great-grandchildren Olivia Claffey, Maggie Rauschenberger, Sean Butler, Jack Rauschenberger, Cassie Rauschenberger and three nephews, Ronald Feiger, Richard Newman, Raymond Newman; sister-in-law, Lorraine J. Fox.

Visiting in the Prout Funeral Home (www.proutfuneralhome.com) 370 Bloomfield Ave., Verona, NJ, on Thursday from 4 to 7 pm. Services will be held in the funeral home on Friday at 9:30am, followed by interment with military honors at Prospect Hill Cemetery, Caldwell, NJ.

Should friends desire, flowers may be sent to Prout Funeral Home or a donation may be made to The Society of the First Infantry Division, PO Box 607, Ambler, PA 19002 or the Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation, Inc., 7008 Little River Tnpk., POB 49, Annandale, VA 22003.