services will be held at the Chapel of Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 4071 Macon Road, Columbus on Sunday, March 4, 2012, at 2 p.m.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday, March 3, 2012 from 4-6 p.m. SGM Lopez Aponte, son of the late Joaquin Lopez and Maria Aponte, was born June 29, 1927 in Cidra, Puerto Rico. He had an honorable and distinguished career 29 years, 6 months, and 12 days, and retired from the United States Army in 1974. Although under age, he joined the Army 20 November 1944, and was deployed and assigned to several military installations through his illustrious career. He served in both
the Korea Era Conflict and also the Vietnam Era Conflict. While during one of his assignments in Geinhousen, Germany, he had the privilege of serving with Platoon Leader 2LT Colin Powell’s (General Colin Powell) first command. During his distinguished career, he was awarded the Air Medal; Bronze Star (3OLC) and Letter “V”; Army Commendation Medal (2BLC); Purple Heart; WWII
Victory Medal; Korean Service Medal w/one silver star; Vietnam Service Medal w/two bronze stars and one silver star; Combat Infantry Badge; Combat Infantry Badge Second Award; and numerous other medals and ribbons.
SGM Lopez Aponte enjoyed playing softball and tennis and was a member of CORTA for several years.
He is survived by three daughters, Noemi Lindstrom McDonough of Tucson, AZ, Carmen Kile of Crown Pointe, IN, and Catherine
Lopez Farhrni of Nashville, TN; two sons, Perry Lopez and his wife Deborah of Columbus; Antonio Lopez and his wife Mary of Murfreesboro, TN; two grandchildren, Brian Lopez of Columbus and Julia Kile of Orlando, FL; devoted former wife, Carmen Lopez
of Columbus; many other brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews residing in Caguas, Puerto Rico. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Wounded Warrior Project at www. woundedwarriorproject.org. Condolences may be offered at www.shcolumbus.com
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