Military
This Nation owes a debt that can never be repaid to the Seward High Alumni who answered the Call to Duty to protect and defend this nation, the ideas and values that we so cherish today. To them the Association says Thank You.
This section is dedicated to the Seward High School Men and Women who served in the military anytime and anyplace. Please submit the Name, Graduation Year (if you can), Dates served and any information (an address if on active duty, any awards, distinguished service etc) you wish to provide so we may create a never ending Thank You to them.
This section is dedicated to the Seward High School Men and Women who served in the military anytime and anyplace. Please submit the Name, Graduation Year (if you can), Dates served and any information (an address if on active duty, any awards, distinguished service etc) you wish to provide so we may create a never ending Thank You to them.
RIVERS, WENDELL BURKE
Captain, USN (Ret.)
Wendell Burke Rivers, 80, of San Antonio, TX died May 9, 2009 of cancer. Captain Rivers was born July 6, 1928 in Seward, Nebraska.
Captain Rivers graduated from Seward High School, class of 1946. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1946, then received his appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1948 and graduated in the USNA’s Class of 1952. Wendell was trained as a fighter pilot and had a distinguished Naval career, serving in both the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. He deployed on his last cruise to Vietnam in 1964, aboard the USS Coral Sea. He was captured in North Vietnam on September 10, 1965 and was released on February 12, 1973.
After 27 years of service, Captain Rivers retired from the Navy on December 31, 1976 and enjoyed a second career as a long-haul truck driver for another 20 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Stephen Clayton Rivers (2005); his brother, Roland Bruce Rivers (1990); and a sister, Phyllis Marillyn Johnson (2006).
Wendy leaves behind his beloved wife of nearly 28 years, Betty H. Rivers; a daughter, Charlotte Gex Morgan; a son, Stewart Blake Rivers (Debra); a stepson, David Fielding Pettijohn and stepdaughter, Darcy Lu Osborne (Ron). He also leaves behind a brother, Leslie Dwight Rivers (Judy); a brother-in-law, Robert Johnson; a sister-in-law, Priscilla Rivers; ten grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Funeral service will be held at Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at the United Methodist Church, Seward, NE at 10:30 a.m.
Memorial donations may be sent to Vitas Innovative Hospice Care; 8109 Fredericksburg Rd.; San Antonio, TX 78229; or to Cancer Research and Development.