Cesar Antonio Rivera-Rodriguez was born on June 8, 1932 in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico to Juan and Angelina (Rodriguez) Rivera. He died on May 11, 2010 at his home in Lawton, Oklahoma surrounded by his family. He was 77. Graveside services will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, May 17, 2010 at the Ft Sill Post Cemetery with Chaplain (Major) Bart Horner, officiating. Full Military Honors will be provided by a Ft Sill Army honors team. Visitation will be held on Sunday, May 16, 2010, from 1:00-5:00 PM at Whinery-Huddleston Funeral Home.

Cesar was raised and attended school in Puerto Rico. He enlisted in the Army in 1952 and served in Korea where he received a Purple Heart, earned the Combat Infantryman Badge, and was awarded the Korean Service Medal w/3 Bronze Stars, United Nations Service Medal, and National Defense Service Medal. He married Esperanza Villanueva in 1954, and was stationed in France, Germany, and twice in Vietnam before retiring at Ft Sill in 1974. He was eventually employed on post as an engineer and retired from the civil service in 1998 after 43 years of service to his country. Cesar enjoyed working on cars and fishing, but never lost the desire to spend as much time with his family as possible, helping all of them in any way he could. He was preceded in death by his parents and several brothers and sisters.

Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Esperanza; daughters, Diana Montgomery and husband Doug of Henderson, NV, and Miriam Rivera of Chaparral, NM; son, Cesar A. Rivera Jr and wife Laura of Lawton; grandchildren, Ben Rivera, Jessica Rivera, Christina Gittins, all of Lawton, Emily Carter and husband Mark of Birmingham, AL, John Nauta of NC, Michael Nauta and wife Bernadette of Austin, TX, Justin Montgomery and wife Keely of Henderson, NV and Nathan Montgomery, also of Henderson, NV; great grandchildren, Michael, Rebecca, Sam, Levi and Skye; brothers, Valentine and Juan Jr; and sisters, Carmen, Ida, and Eva.