Angel Rivera Vazquez's Obituary
Seargent First Class (SFC) Angel Rivera (United States Army, Retired), 95, of Barranquitas, Puerto Rico, passed away peacefully the morning of January 23, 2023 in Grand Prairie, Texas.
A viewing / gathering of family and friends will be held on Thursday, January 26th at the Mansfield Funeral Home between the hours of 6pm and 8pm. A small service will be held at 7:15pm. Funeral services, with full military honors, will be held at 9:15am, Friday, January 27th at the Dallas – Fort Worth National Cemetery.
Angel was born in Barranquitas, Puerto Rico to Antonia (Toña) Vazquez Aponte and Ramón (Suno) Rivera Santiago on January 5th, 1928. Angel grew up in Barrio Barrancas, Barranquitas. As a young adult, he moved with his uncle Herminio Vazquez to Salt Lake City, Utah. While living in Salt Lake City, Angel worked as a bus boy and bell hop at the Hotel Utah, now a National Historic Site.
SFC Rivera was drafted into the United States Army on December 19th, 1950, in Fort Ord, California at the beginning of the Korean War. He served as an infantryman and tank crew member in Korea for over a year.
Angel married his sweetheart, Natividad Ortiz Ramos (Trina) in Barranquitas, Puerto Rico on July 5th, 1952. Together, they had four children, Angel Jr (1953), Hector (1954), Hilda (1959) and Mildred (1965). Angel’s Army assignments took him and his family to live in Alaska, Washington State, Hawaii, Kentucky, Virginia, and Puerto Rico. Angel also served a tour in Vietnam between 1968 and 1969, while the family remained in Puerto Rico. Angel retired from the US Army in November of 1971, returning to Puerto Rico with his family.
Angel Rivera was a proud military veteran. Many in his family followed his example of service to this great nation. Serving in the Army were Hector (son), Alicia Arturet-Rivera (daughter-in-law), Ricardo Rivera-Arturet (grandson) and Miguel Guzman (son-in-law). Serving in the Air Force were Angel Jr (son), Julia Dudley Rivera (daughter-in-law) and Rick Franceschi (son-in-law). His daughter Hilda made a career of serving with the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, a Department of Defense entity that provides retail services to all military servicemembers worldwide.
Angel is now reunited with his loved ones who preceded his death: his parents Antonia Vazquez Aponte and Ramón Rivera Santiago, his sister Ramona Rivera Vazquez, as well as his brothers Alfredo Rivera Vazquez, Luis Rivera Vazquez, and Ivan Rosado Vazquez. He is survived by his sister Francisca Rosado Vazquez and brother, Miguel Angel Rosado Vazquez.
Angel leaves behind to cherish his memory his beloved wife of over 70 years, Trina, his son Angel Jr (and wife Julia Dudley), his son Hector (and wife Alicia Arturet), his daughter Hilda (and husband Rick Franceschi) and his daughter Mildred (and husband Miguel Guzman). Also left to cherish his memory are granddaughters Cynthia (husband Alejandro Shultz), Liza (husband Joe Simon) and Nadia Marie Rivera. His grandsons are Christopher, Sonny, Ricardo (Ritchie), James (Jaime) and Emmanuellie Arce. Angel’s great grandchildren are Gabriela, Camila, Jacob, Noah, Leah, Hannah, Lilah, and Jonah. Angel’s memory will continue to live with his entire beautiful family as well as in all the hearts he touched throughout his lifetime.
In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Wounded Warrior Project or the Tunnel to Towers Foundation in the name of SFC Angel Rivera, United States Army.
El Sargento Primera Clase del ejercito (retirado) Angel Rivera Vazquez, 95 años de edad, de Barranquitas, Puerto Rico, falleció en paz por la mañana de enero 23 del 2023 en Grand Prairie, Texas.
El velorio / reunion de familia y amistades se llevará a cabo el día jueves, enero 26 en el Mansfield Funeral Home entre las horas 6 a 8 de la tarde. El servicio funebre, con todo los honores militar, será a las 9:15am, Viernes, enero 27 en el Cementerio Nacionál de Dallas – Fort Worth, Texas.
Angel nació en Barranquitas, Puerto Rico, el 5 de enero del 1928, hijo de Antonia (Toña) Vazquez Aponte y Ramón (Suno) Rivera Santiago. Angel se crió en el Barrio Barrancas de Barranquitas. Cuando adulto jóven, se fué con su tío Herminio Vazquez para vivir en Salt Lake City, Utah. Mientras vivía en Salt Lake City, Angel trabajaba en el Hotel Utah, que ahora es un centro histórico nacionál.
Sargento Primera Clase Rivera ingresó al ejército de los Estados Unidos en Diciembre 19 del 1950 en la base Fort Ord, California justo al principio de la Guerra de Korea. Sirvió como Infantero y tanquero en esa guerra por más de un año.
Angel se casó con su novia, Natividad Ortiz Ramos (Trina) en Barranquitas, Puerto Rico en Julio 5 del 1952. Juntos, ellos tuvieron cuatro hijos, Angel Junior (1953), Hector Luis (1954), Hilda Luz (1959) y Mildred (1965). El ejercito asignó a Angel, junto a su familia para vivir en Alaska, el estado de Washington, Hawaii, Kentucky, Virginia y Puerto Rico. Angel Tambien sirvió un año en Vietnam entre 1968 y 1969, y su familia se quedó en Puerto Rico. Angel se retire del ejército en noviembre del 1971, y regresó a Puerto Rico con su familia.
Angel Rivera es un veteran muy orgulloso de su servicio militar. Muchos en su familia siguieron su ejemplo de servicio a los Estados Unidos. Los que sirvieron en el ejército fueron su hijo Hector, su nuera Alicia Arturet-Rivera, su nieto Ricardo Rivera-Arturet y Miguel Guzmán, su yerno. Los que sirvieron en la Fuerza Aerea fueron su hijo mayor Angel (Junior), su nuera Julia Dudley-Rivera y su yerno Ricardo Franceschi. Su hija, Hilda sirvió con el Army & Air Force Exchange Service, una entidad del depto de defensa que provee servicios de venta minorista a toda las fuerzas armadas alrededor del mundo entero.
Angel ya está reunido con sus seres queridos que ya han hecho la transición de este mundo: sus padres Antonia Vazquez Aponte y Ramón Rivera Santiago, su hermana Ramona Rivera Vazquez al igual que su hermanos Alfredo Rivera Vazquez, Luis Rivera Vazquez e Ivan Rosado Vazquez. Le sobrevive su hermana Francisca (Paquita) Rosado Vazquez y su hermano Miguel Angel (Guelo) Rosado Vazquez.
Angel deja atrás a muchos que atesoran su memoria: su amada esposa (Trina) de más de 70 años, su hijo mayor Angel Junior (y esposa Julia Dudley), su hijo Hector Luis (y esposa Alicia Arturet), su hija Hilda Luz (y su esposo Ricardo Franceschi) y su hija Mildred (y esposo Miguel Guzmán). Otros que también aprecian su memoria son sus nietas Cynthia Ivelisse (y esposo Alejandro Schultz), Liza Marie (y su esposo Joe Simon) y Nadia Marie … y sus nietos Christopher Angel, Sonny, Ricardo “Ritchie”, Jaime y Emmanuellie Arce. Los bisnietos de Angel son Gabriela, Camila, Jacob, Noah, Leah, Hannah, Lilah y Jonah. La memoria de Angel seguirá viviendo entre su bella familia al igual que todo los corazones que el tocó durante su vida.
En vez de flores, le sugerimos que hagan una donación a nombre del Sargento Primera Clase Angel Rivera, ejército de los Estados Unidos a las siguientes organizaciones … el Wounded Warrior Project o al Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
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