James "Jim" Riffe

With his family at his side, James Riffe, better known as "Jim" to his friends, went to meet the Lord on October 13, 2009, after a sudden unexpected illness. Born on December 11, 1936, the son of the late Hufford and Orpha Riffe, of Bradshaw, WV, Jim chose to relocate with his wife, Jane Horne, to Hampton, VA, in 1960. While raising a family he quickly developed a reputation as an extraordinarily skilled heavy equipment operator, custom car enthusiast and friend; however, anyone who knew Jim quickly learned how his love of motorcycles enriched his life. He built them, raced them on the East Coast drag bike circuit and spent many long, sunny days riding with his wife, his friends and later his children. Jim was a strong and passionate man with a desire to see the humor in most situations, even if he had to create it himself. He never met a stranger and will be sorely missed by the many people whose lives he enriched with a grin. Jim worked hard and played harder, riding thousands of miles in his lifetime, enjoying both the new sights and the comforting familiar ones along the way.

In 1989 Jim and Jane moved to Abingdon, VA, where he continued working in construction until his retirement. Retirement provided him with the opportunity to meet new people and see new places. Shortly after retiring, Jim and Jane purchased the Abingdon Taxi Service to further help their community that they now called "home." Long after the taxi service was sold, Jim continued to help people and care about the new friends he met along the way. This year, after many years of "warming a pew" in the back of the church, Jim surprised many by officially joining Mountain View's congregation and was baptized.

Leaving to cherish his memories, Jim is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Jane (Horne) Riffe; his four daughters, Donna Kim Naffah and husband Joe, Abingdon, VA, Elizabeth Anne Webster, Hampton, VA, Melissa Amy Coleman and husband Kirby, Abingdon, VA, Melinda Lee Dustin and husband Mike, Bristol, TN; two grandsons, Nicholas Alexander Riffe and James D. Riffe-Lipert, and three granddaughters, Ashley Noel Dustin, Lilly Samantha Dustin and Morgan Jean Coleman. His grandchildren were the light of his life, especially his "three little redheads" whose laughter brought him great joy. Jim is also survived by sisters Hazel (Shirley) Belcher, Harmon, VA, Barbara Horn and husband George, Abingdon, VA, and Trula Baldwin, Bluefield, WV. He will be missed and his life celebrated by sister-in-law Mary Jeffreys, Abingdon, VA, and son David Jeffreys, Hampton, VA. Jim also leaves behind many loving nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

The family will receive friends from 6-9 p.m. on Friday, October 16, 2009 at the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service in Abingdon. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 17, 2009 at the Mountain View United Methodist Church, 20241 Green Springs Rd, Abingdon, VA 24211 with Reverend Donald Thayer officiating. Interment will follow in Mountain View United Methodist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Joseph Charles Naffah, Jr., Nicholas Alexander Riffe, Michael Dustin, Kirby Coleman, Tommy Frye, David Jeffreys, Don Ferguson, George Horn and Pat Otte.


In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Mountain View United Methodist Church, c/o Pam Holmes, 36142 Glove Drive, Glade Spring, VA 24340, or the Cancer Outreach Foundation, 206 Abingdon Place, Abingdon, VA 24211. The family would like to express their gratitude to the caring staff at Johnston Memorial Hospital and to the many friends who came by to share their support, stories and prayers.