Frederick Hammond Rives

Frederick Hammond Rives (Fred) was called to be with the Lord on Thursday June 27, 2013 at the age of 85. He passed away peacefully at his home of 52 years in Garland, Texas surrounded by his family. He is preceded in death by his father John Rives and mother Myrtle Long and sisters Gloria Ferguson and Celeste Robinson. Fred will be lovingly remembered by his wife Huong of fifteen years. His daughter and son-in-law Melody and Tony Thedford of Richardson, Texas and son Frederick (Rick) Rives Jr. and wife Shonna of Garland, Texas. He has two granddaughters Stephanie Godinez of Garland, Texas and Brandy Salinas of Wylie, Texas and two great- grand children Caleb Salinas of Wylie, Texas and Bailey Trosper of Garland, Texas. He also has three nieces.
Born in San Antonio Texas to parents Myrtle Ione Carter and John Thomas Rives, Fred was raised in Houston and then later moved to Dallas. He served his country in the United States Marine Corp from 1948 to 1951. Ranked Corporal, he fought in the Korean war and received the Purple Heart. His dedication to the military is one of his proudest achievements. Another proud and defining moment took place in 1971 when he finally decided to join the Catholic Church which his family had already been a part of. For several years, he gave his services at Good Shepherd Catholic Church as eucharistic minister, lector, usher and was a Fourth Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus. He later became a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Richardson, Texas.
Fred was a traveling salesman for Ferry Morse Seed Company many years and then retired from Alcatel in 1993. He enjoyed classical and big band music, classic John Wayne westerns, building model airplanes cooking and gardening. He especially enjoyed listening to recordings of old radio programs that brought him back to his youth. He was an avid sports fan and loved watching and playing tennis. Besides following the local sports teams, he always tuned into stock car and Indy car races. A true lover of animals, Fred adored his pet cats Percy and Spud and looked after many neighborhood animals as well. He will be remembered by his keen sense of humor, wit and charm.
Services 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, July, 10, 2013, St. Joseph Catholic Church, 600 S. Jupiter Rd. Richardson Texas
Inurnment, Thursday July 11, 2013 Dallas Forth Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek parkway, Dallas, Texas