Jules C. Rivera Jr.

Retired Major Jules Caesar Rivera, Jr., a Havelock resident, entered eternal rest with the Lord on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2007, surrounded by his family at Duke University Medical Center. Jules Rivera loved his God, children, and country. A Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Annunciation Catholic Church, Havelock. The burial will follow at St. Joseph's Cemetery, New Bern. He was a long standing parishioner of Annunciation Catholic Church where his children were well educated. In his later years, he fulfilled some life-long desires of traveling to Israel and Mejegoria, in pursuit of expanding his Catholic Faith. Born a northerner from Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1932, he became a southern gentleman. He is survived by four sons, Daniel, Michael, and Pete of Greenville, and William and wife, Wendy, Rivera of Virginia. His son Jules Rivera III passed on Sept. 27, 2006. Additionally, five daughters remain, Teresa and Gilda of Charleston, S.C., Evelyn Rivera of Burlington, Shirley Rivera and husband, Edwin, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Mercedes Rivera of Havelock. His legacy includes fourteen grandchildren, Alex, Chaz, Joey, Anthony, Felicia, Amber, Josh, Rachael, Caleb, Christian, Noah, Brielle, Paul, and Corey. Jules Rivera is also survived by two sisters, Sylvia Rosete of Florida and Liz Rodriguez of New Jersey; and former wife of 26 years: Ileana Gouras. His productivity extended to an illustrious military career. "Semper Fi" Jules was a loyal servant in the Marine Corps for 25 years. Enlisting in 1949, fresh out of high school, he served in the Korean War, First Battalion, Fifth Marines infantry. In 1958, he was tapped for officer training, in Quantico, Va. He served two tours of duty during the Vietnam War. The first as a member of the Second Battalion, Third Marines Infantry and the second with the Special Landing Force. During his dedicated career with the Marines, he was wounded in action in both wars earning two Purple Hearts and other awards to numerous to mention. Before retiring in 1974, Major Rivera concluded his military career as the Company Commander of M.W.H.G. He also was an undercover CIA Interpreter in the Middle East, having been fluent in seven languages, and finally he also served as a U.S. Marshall. Combining his war benefits, he obtained four and 7/8 degrees. While teaching at World University, he obtained a degree in Philosophy in 1975; Bachelor's in History from SUNY in 1978; M.A. and Ed.S. in Education from East Carolina University from 1983-4. His capstone would have been the completion of a six-year pursuit of a PhD from the College of Education at NCSU in Raleigh. He resided and worked in Raleigh for a ten year period at the N.C. State Department of Crime Control and Public Safety until his second retirement in 1992. Visitation will be from 7 - 9 p.m. Friday at Cotton Funeral Home on Neuse Blvd. All surviving family, friends, and loved ones will miss him dearly, forever. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that donations be forwarded, in memory of Jules C. Rivera, Jr., to the Annunciation Catholic School Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 720 Havelock, NC 28532. Arrangements by Cotten Funeral Home & Crematory.