Master Sergeant Bernard T. Rivas, U.S.A.F. (Retired)

Master Sergeant Bernard T. "Bernie" Rivas, U.S.A.F. (Retired), 77, of Lansdale, PA passed away peacefully on July 24, 2019 at Abington Hospice at Warminster in Warminster, PA, with his family by his side. He was the beloved husband of 31 years to Deborah A. (nee Wojciechowski) Rivas with whom he was united in marriage on May 1, 1988. Born September 28, 1941 in Philadelphia, PA he was the son of the late Mary Rose (nee Haislip) Rivas and the late Alfred M. Rivas.

Master Sergeant Rivas was a career United States Air Force Veteran who proudly, honorably, and faithfully served his country for over twenty years before retiring to civilian life in 1979. During the course of his military career he had attended the University of Maryland where he obtained both his Bachelors Degree and Masters Degree. After his retirement from the military, Bernie then became an entrepreneur and owned and operated a few different companies through the years before divesting the businesses and finally retiring. He enjoyed sailing, reading, wood working, being an avid Philadelphia Phillies fan, and helping others through volunteering his counseling skills, especially at the McGuire Air Force Base. What he enjoyed most of all however was spending time with his family and his dogs, especially his late beloved canine companion, "Pancho", and he will always be remembered as a loving husband, father, and brother.

In addition to his wife, Bernie is also survived by his daughter, Kimberly N. Rivas and her fiancee', Shane R. Freeman, of Lansdale, PA, his sister, Nancy R. Bach, of Winnetka, IL, and his brothers, Alfredo Rivas, of Hollywood, MD, and Robert Rivas, of Bel Air, MD.

Relatives and friends are invited to greet the family on Thursday, August 1, 2019 from 9:00-10:30 AM at Huff & Lakjer Funeral Home, 701 Derstine Avenue, Lansdale, PA 19446 where his Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 AM. Burial with Full Military Honors will immediately follow at Washington Crossing National Cemetery in Newtown, PA.

The family has respectfully requested that all flowers be omitted, and that those desiring to do so may make a memorial contribution in his name to the Disabled American Veterans, PO Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301, and which would be deeply appreciated by his family as this was an organization that was very important to Bernie because of his desire to always help others.