Esteban Rivera Jr, age 81, passed away on March 14th, 2025 in Allen, Texas. He was born on November 12th, 1944 in Los Garcias, Texas. Esteban was raised in Rio Grande City, Texas, and graduated from Rio Grande City High School on May 22nd, 1964 before enlisting in the United States Army.
He served as a Specialist 4, in Vietnam for C Company 66th Maintenance Battalion for 3 years and was a decorated Marksman (Rifle) who received a Good Conduct Medal and National Defense Service Medal.
He married Alejandrina Lara Rivera on April 10th, 1970, and had two sons, Miguel Rivera and Jesus Rivera. He went on to graduate from Mountain View College, after making the dean’s list, in May of 1976 with an Associate in Applied Arts & Sciences for Welding Technology. He then completed his Certificate of Attainment, through DISD Continuing Education Program, for Plumbing in May of 1984.
He was a dedicated hard worker and in his early life enjoyed refereeing for local soccer teams and coaching his son’s soccer team while taking his wife out dancing or hosting events in their home. Later in life, he enjoyed going to the gun range, gardening, helping raise his granddaughter, and was always active in the Catholic church playing guitar while his wife sang in the choir.
His family and friends will always remember him as a tough, resilient, disciplined, caring, and fair individual whose humor was one of a kind.
He is preceded in death by both of his parents and sisters followed by his son Jesus Rivera and wife Alejandrina Lara Rivera.
He is survived by his son Miguel Angel Rivera, granddaughter Michaela Alexandra Rivera Longoria, and great-grandchildren Konstantine, Ocean, Morgan, Bellastar, Ava, and Phoenix Longoria.
