FELIX RIOS, JR

Retired SFC Felix Rios Jr was born and raised in the Bronx, New York City.  Felix, always selfless and patriotic, lived the Army values of loyalty, duty, respect, service, honor, integrity, and personal courage.  Felix, a veteran of the Iraq war, earned the Bronze Star for meritorious service in a combat zone. He served in Kuwait in the Global War on Terror.  Throughout his career he was recognized for his leadership and actions and awarded the Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense service medal with bronze star, Humanitarian Service Medal and more importantly earned the respect and love of his fellow soldiers.  He served his country with pride, living each day giving more of himself, and appreciating the best in others.  A wonderful father, loving husband, and an exceptional soldier, he was blessed with a generous spirit.   Always uplifting, kind hearted, and a humble man, Felix was a light in this world.

In 1994 when Tropical Storm Alberto barreled into Georgia bringing floodwaters that left parts of Macon without power and water for nearly 3 weeks, Felix and his unit were instrumental in providing fresh water to the City of Macon.  Felix was also part of the Department of Defense Joint task force for the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, GA in 1996.  

In 2009 retired, Felix transitioned into other work at Ft Lewis Army Base as the Program Director of the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics department (ANAM).  ANAM provided base line testing of brain function before and after deployments and is used to identify and monitor changes in function after a soldier suffers injury.  Felix was directly responsible for developing the construction layout of the new office site, developed the flow and process of the program, and gave an insightful yet fun orientation to each soldier that processed through the base, administered the testing, and was critical to the success of the program.  This ANAM program continues to provide benefits and essential medical data for soldiers today. 

As Felix supported the family move to California, he pursued his other passion for motorcycles and successfully completed with honors the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute (MMI) with Harley Davidson in Arizona.  During his time at MMI, he made many friends and helped others through difficult times.     

Felix believed in friendships and building lasting relationships.  He was a sincere friend.   He reached out to help others unconditionally, held no regrets in life, and found peace riding his Harley, as well as being in the comfort of his home.  As a movie fanatic, he enjoyed classics like Star Wars, Die Hard, The Princess Bride, Fifth Element, and musicals like Guys n Dolls but still had a great sense of humor and could laugh at Me, Myself, and Irene.  Let us not forget his silly fascination with the show Ridiculousness which made him laugh each day.  Felix played the trumpet, tinkered with the Piano, was an avid comic book and coin collector, and was the ultimate UFC fan, not ever missing a single Saturday pay per view event or fight night. 

Felix lived his life with grace, compassion, empathy, and dignity. Above all, he loved his family, friends, and everyone in between. To know him was to love him, and to be loved by him.

Felix is survived by his wife of 34 years Maribel, his daughter Mia, his Mother Carmen, his Father Felix, his siblings Alexander, Veronica, and Liana.

Love is powerful, until we see each other again. Rest well!

A Creed - by Edwin Markham

There is a destiny that makes us brothers;

None goes his way alone:

All that we send into the lives of others

Comes back into our own.

I care not what his temples or his creeds,

One thing holds firm and fast –

That into his fateful heap of days and deeds

The soul of a man is cast.

Funeral Service will be on Friday, August 5, 2022 at 11 am in Grimes-Akes Family's "Grace Chapel" Corona, California.

Graveside service to follow in Riverside National Cemetery at 1:45 pm

Arrangements entrusted to the care of Akes Family Funeral Home, Riverside, California.

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