Norma Jean Allen Riffe

Norma Jean Allen Riffe, a child of God and the daughter of the late Regnal F. and Lula Suiter Allen, died on August 30, 2026, at the age of 93. She was born in Bolt, West Virginia. Norma Attended Sophia Grade School and Sophia High School in Sophia, West Virginia. In 1952 she started her teaching career in a one room school, Hotchkiss Grade School, teaching all eight grades. Driving a little green Jeep across the mountains, once she was the only school in Raleigh County that had school. She didn't know school had been canceled because of a snowstorm. Most of her students showed up for class. She would later say, "I learned a lot those two years at Hotchkiss." After two years in the one room school house, she taught at Sophia Grade School, a combination grade of 38 third and fourth graders.

In 1953 she married Orval Ray Riffe, her husband for 57 years. Moving to North Carolina she enrolled at Meredith College to finish her education and to meet North Carolina's teaching requirements. She started teaching at Mount Auburn where she had 41 second and third grade students. ("No aide, no help, but I learned a lot about teaching.")

Innovative in her teaching, she believed that our children are the future, and should be well taught. She developed many programs, and teaching aids to help her students learn. Her philosophy was: "Children give us what we expect of them, so I always expect the best. From a one room school to teaching students to use computers and teaching teacher workshops was quite a journey, but I learned a lot and hope my students did too."

Norma was a published author of many poems, short stories, a book of poetry, From the Window of My Heart, The Journal of a Caregiver, 2680 Days, and Teacher One Room School to Computers.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Orval; her parents; three brothers, Carl, Patrick, and Rickie Allen; sister, Kay Lusk; sister-in-law, Jane Riffe. She is survived by her son, Gregory A. Riffe and wife, Shana; daughter, LuAnn Lenz; brother, Gary Allen and wife Kathy; three grandchildren, David and Adam Lenz, and Emily Riffe; Five sisters-in-law Betty Allen, Alice Riffe, Alice M. Riffe, Frances Dickerson and husband Ray; several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 10:00am at Mount Moriah Baptist Church. A funeral service will follow at 11:00am.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Mount Moriah Baptist Church.