Jess Rivera

He was proud to have served our country in the Korean Conflict as a Marine Corp from 1950 to 1952, Seventh regiment, Third Battalion. During his term, he was wounded twice and received two Purple Hearts. Our beloved father met the love of his life, our mother, Helen Calderon, at the Rainbow Ballroom in Fresno, CA, and dated for six months before they married in Reno, NV. The strength and depths of their love was seen through their 58 years of marriage.

As a young man, Jess worked in various labor fields to help support his parents financially. He was born in Fairfield, CA, and was raised in Del Rey, CA. He was the oldest son of his family and graduated from Selma High School in 1947. In his career, he worked for Fresno County for over 30 years. He held the position as a stock worker for the Welfare Department, and then moved to Valley Medical Center in the Respiratory Department. He retired in 1990.

Dad lived a very active healthy life, as he would jog to and from work every day and also you could catch him jogging down Huntington Blvd. at least five days out of the week. He was a well-known runner in the local run community as he placed first or second place in his age division throughout the years. His grandchildren admired his trophy case in his home.

Dad loved getting together with family to celebrate life! Birthdays, graduations, baptisms, weddings, and holidays. He loved going to Kearney Park on Easter, spending a summer day at Shaver Lake, or enjoying a barbecue at one of his children's homes. Everyone always looked forward to Grandpa's famous teriyaki chicken, a ten rating recipe.

Dad and Mom would take bus trips to San Francisco and Ensenada with many of their good friends and always had a great memorable time. Dad loved to dance. He and mom would go to dances every Saturday night. They called our dad; "Cambia Jess" because once the DJ played cumbias everyone knew where to find him and mom, out on the dance floor.

Dad will be fondly remembered by his genuine smile and friendliness. He lived out his motto that he carried within him, "Think positive!"

He was preceded in death by his wife Helen.

He leaves behind his sons, Eddie Rivera and wife Tina, and Gilbert Rivera; his only daughter, Linda Tully and husband Rick; grandsons, Eric Jess Rivera and his wife Jessica, Anthony Tully and his wife Melissa, and Gilbert Jr. Rivera; his only granddaughter, Kristina Rivera Gomez and husband Daniel; 11 great-grandchildren; and many brothers, sisters, cousins, nephews, nieces, friends, and his extended family at the Fresno VA Home.

Visitation will be held at Lisle Funeral Home, 1605 L St., Fresno, CA, on Thursday, September 13, 2018, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a Recitation of the Holy Rosary at 7:00 p.m.

A Mass Service will be held at St. Agnes Mission Church, 111 W. Birch St, Pinedale, CA, on Friday, September 14, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. A burial will be held at Fresno Memorial Gardens.