RIVERS, Wendell Burke "Wendy" - b. July 6, 1928

Captain Wendell Burke "Wendy Rivers, 80, USN Retired of San Antonio, Texas, died May 9, 2009 of cancer. Capt. Rivers was born July 6, 1928 in Seward, Nebraska. He graduated from Seward High School in 1946.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1946 and received his appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1946. He graduated in the USNA's class of 1952. Trained as a fighter pilot, he had a distinguished naval career, serving in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. 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 military service, Capt. Rivers retired from the Navy on December 31, 1976 and enjoyed a second career as a long-haul driver for another 20 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Stephen Clayton Rivers in 2005; a brother, Roland Bruce Rivers in 1990; and a sister, Phyllis Marillyn Johnson in 2006.

Wendy leaves behind his beloved wife of nearly 28 years, Betty H. Rivers; a daughter, Charlotte Gex Morgan; a son, Stewart Blake Rivers and wife Debra; a stepson, David Fielding Pettijohn; a stepdaughter, Darcy Lu Osborne and husband Ron; a brother, Leslie Dwight Rivers and wife Judy; a brother-in-law, Robert Johnson; a sister-in-law, Priscilla Rivers of Grenola, Kansas; 10 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at the United Methodist Church in Seward, Nebraska. Burial will be at Seward Cemetery. Memorial donations may be sent to Vitas Innovative Hospice Care, 8109 Fredericksburg Road, San Antonio, Texas 78229 or to Cancer Research and Development.

Zabka Funeral Home, 410 Jackson Avenue, Seward Nebraska 68434 is in charge of arrangements.

(taken from the Winfield Daily Courier website)