Carlos Rivera-De Jesus

SFC (Retired) Carlos Rivera DeJesus, 93, was born on November 6, 1932, in Guayama, Puerto Rico, and passed away quietly in his home on January 8, 2026, with his daughter Nancy and caretaker Brunilda Vargas by his side. He passed away knowing his family deeply loved him and grateful that he was able to spend some time with his son Eddie (Fiona) and his grandchildren Shay

and Aiden.

Carlos lived his life with purpose, honor, and devotion. Raised in the vibrant heart of Puerto Rico, Carlos carried with him a great pride in his heritage, a strong work ethic, and a steadfast commitment to service.

On October 27, 1954, Carlos answered the call to serve his country, beginning a distinguished 22-year career in the United States Army. Throughout his service, he exemplified discipline, integrity, and unwavering dedication. While in France, Carlos was assigned as Personnel Security Clerk and Classified Document Clerk, and according to Commanding Officer William L. Wells, Carlos showed “professional competence and unending loyalty which enabled the Intelligence Section to surpass all of the previous standards of performance.” His exceptional career earned him numerous honors, including the Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star, Meritorious Unit Commendation, VHGC Medal, and the Army Occupation Medal. His courage and professionalism earned him the respect of his fellow soldiers and the admiration of all who knew him. His legacy of patriotism and sacrifice will endure for generations.

Shortly after his retirement, Carlos attended Columbus College (now Columbus State University) and earned his degree in Business Administration, and at one time, all three of his children attended at the same time! Carlos, known for being a dedicated and hard worker, had a second career working in the Postal Service and retired in 1995.

Beyond his military achievements, Carlos found joy in the simple pleasures of life. He loved baseball, enjoyed tinkering, and was known for his never-ending humor and quiet strength, and despite several health issues, he carried on until he could no longer do so. He was a generous spirit and had deep devotion to his family. He approached life with humility and resilience, always offering wisdom, support, and kindness to those around him.

Carlos’s life was a testament to service—service to his country, to his family, and to his community. Grace Baptist Church in Columbus, GA, was his home church, where he attended for more than forty years. His memory will continue to inspire all who were fortunate enough to share in his journey.

Eddie, Carlos’s son, has memories of his dad having a distinctive whistle when he wanted their attention, and he remembers how his dad used that whistle when he returned from Vietnam and met both boys at the junior high school where they attended. When they heard the whistle, they immediately knew it was their dad and ran out to find him.

Shay, his granddaughter, has fond memories of her grandpa’s competitive spirit when playing Scrabble and remembers how she learned new words from him. Carlos enjoyed word games such as crossword puzzles and cryptograms, and loved learning new words. His daughter Nancy also likes word games and doing cryptograms. Speaking of competitive, Nancy challenged Carlos to read his Bible, and he took the challenge and read the Bible cover to cover.

Carlos was preceded in death by his grandfather, whom raised him, Rosendo Rivera Perez, and his parents, Miguel Angel Rivera Duboy and Isabel Duboy, and his beloved wife Ada I. Rivera, with whom he shared a lifetime of love and devotion.

He is survived by his children, Carlos R. Rivera, Eddie B. Rivera, and Nancy I. Rivera; his daughter-in-law, Evelyn J. Rivera; and Eddie’s partner, Fiona K. Bremner. He was a proud grandfather to Shay I. Rivera Bremner and Aiden C. Rivera Bremner, who brought him immense joy.

A funeral service will be held at Striffler Hamby Chapel, 4071 Macon Road, Columbus, GA, on Friday January 16. Visitation will be at 2:00 pm, with the service following at 3:00 pm. Flowers may be sent to Striffler Hamby or, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Grace Baptist Church, 2915 14th Avenue, Columbus, GA 31904. .