Joe Rivera

ROCK HILL - A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, May 16, 2011, at Greene Funeral Home Northwest Chapel, with the Rev. Bernie Lewis officiating.

Joe was born July 30, 1930, in the U.S. Territory of Puerto Rico and resided in South Carolina since 1957. He was a member of First Assembly of God Church in Rock Hill, where he served as secretary of the senior adults group. He retired from the U.S. Army after 22 years including combat duty with the First Cavalry Division in Korea and the First Infantry Division in Vietnam. After he retired from the army, Joe worked at the S.C. Employment Security Commission for 25 years as Veteran's Employment Representative. He graduated from Winthrop University with a B.S. Degree in Communications and a Minor in Political Science. He also attended the National Veteran's Training Institute at the University of Colorado in Denver. He was cofounder and vice chairman of the York County Veteran's Advisory Council for 10 years; served as treasurer of the York County Chapter of the S.C. State Employees Association for 20 years; was selected as the Outstanding State Employee of S.C. in 1995; was a member of the American Legion Post 34, the VFW Post 2889 in Rock Hill, the S.C. State Retiree's Association and the YMCA in Rock Hill; was a former 32nd degree Mason of the Scottish Rites Consistory in Frankfurt, Germany; worked for two years at the Charlotte Main Post Office; and received two commendations from the S.C. House of Representatives in 1996 and in 1999 for his work with veterans. After retiring from State service he became active at the Rock Hill First Four Square Church, administering and delivering food and clothing from the Second Harvest Food Bank in Charlotte, N.C. to homebound and needy families in the Rock Hill area.

He is survived by his wife, the former Lila Mae Herring of Rock Hill; two sons, Joseph G. and Joseph M., both of Rock Hill; four grandchildren; a great-grandson; and two great-granddaughters, all of Rock Hill.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Greene Funeral Home Northwest Chapel, 2133 Ebenezer Road, Rock Hill.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Assembly of God, 1089 Edwards Street, Rock Hill, SC 29730.