Juan Diolosa was born in a small farming town of Dumangas, Iloilo, Philippines on February 8, 1929. His parents, the late Jose Bedia and Dolores Diolosa, were share cropper farm producers. Juan was the first son and fifth child of thirteen children. His family dealt with many challenges in the aftermath of World War II, and the Japanese bombing in the Philippines on December 8, 1941.
After graduating from high school in 1949, he ventured to an island in Davao, landing a job as a shipping clerk at Stevedoring Company, while paying his way through Technical and Radio Communications School, graduating as Salutatorian in 1950. In 1951, he left the Philippines to work in Guam as an electrician at a U.S. Naval Hospital. After working five years, he volunteered for the draft in the U.S. Army, joined the Infantry in 1955, and later was stationed in Korea until 1956. During his re-enlistment leave in 1957, he returned home to Dumangas, where he met a young cashier, Gilda, at the IloIlo China Bazaar. He would later refer to the Bazaar as the “sanctuary of love”, after meeting his future wife.
SFC Diolosa served his country in the Korean and Vietnam War and retired with 27 years of military service, receiving the National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 2 Bronze Service Stars, two Overseas Service Bars, and Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation. He worked for 3 years in Federal Civilian Service as a Small Arms Repairer, Weapons Pool, Directorate of Logistics.
Juan served his community as a member of the Disabled American Veterans, Knights of Columbus, American Legion, founding member of the Filipino American Association (FAA), and was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church for over 55 years.
He was a craftsman in gardening, woodworking, and painting. He was certified in trade school for refrigeration and upholstery. His hobbies were fishing, playing bingo, photography - you would always see him holding a video camcorder.
Juan is survived by his loving wife of 62 years of marriage, Gilda Biboso Diolosa; six daughters, Janet D. Geisler (David) of Ashburn, Virginia, Juanilda B. Diolosa of Columbus, Joy B. Diolosa of Columbus, Joan D. Cramer (Chris) of Saint Petersburg, Florida, Jewel D. Diolosa of Columbus, and Ginger D. Steele (Michael) of Columbus; twelve grandchildren, Joseph Geisler, Justin Geisler, Danielle Geisler, Katie Anne Diolosa Rice, Jazmine Cramer, Nick Cramer, Marcus Poole, Roxann Poole, Dyana Poole, Gherrod Diolosa, Emory Lawson, Madison Steele; and two great grandchildren, Ezra Geisler, and Anberlin Lawson.
