Obituary of George J. Rivers

On the eve of his twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, George J. Rivers passed away on February 10, 2020, after complications from brain surgery.  He was sixty-five years old.  George was born on December 8, 1954, in Pascoag, Rhode Island, the son of John Bernard Rivers and Lydia Virginia Nerbonne Rivers. George lived in Cocoa, Florida for the past 30 years.  There he met and married the love of his life Diane Ramirez Rivers. During their twenty-five-year marriage, George worked in pest control and Diane taught Spanish at Merritt Island High School.   George loved Diane’s son Freddy (Alfredo) and considered him his son from day one.  Alfredo’s young children Angelina and Elias were the new bright loves in George’s life.  Near the end, George could barely speak, but when Angelina clamored up to see him, George opened his eyes and uttered “sweetheart,” with a smile. George and his wife Diane loved to travel, especially to cruise.  Together they crossed on Queen Elizabeth 2 to England and had planned to return this summer.  They cruised twice to Turkey and through the Greek Islands.  George enjoyed Greek food and culture so much that in Athens people thought he was Greek, although his heritage is English and French.  George’s rugged good looks do give him a Greek look. With Diane at his side, George had adventures in Spain, France, and Italy, also.  George on the loose was the “pest” that had to be controlled while traveling; he had so much fun. At home, George was the owner of George Pest Control formerly INFINITY, IPM Pest Management. Before that, he was the manager for Sunstate Pest Control in Rockledge. George controlled pests but also protected bees.  He moved bees from people’s yards so they could live freely elsewhere to flourish. George is survived by his sister Kathy Leonard of Woodstock, Georgia, his sister Linda Wooten of Damascus, Virginia, his son Alfredo (Freddy) and his wife Desiree, three grandchildren Angelina, Elias and Sariya, and his beloved wife Diane. George will be cremated by Ammen Family Cremation and Funeral Care but a service will not follow.  George asked Diane to take his ashes to the Space Center and the Mediterranean. George was a kind, gentle, and compassionate man who would always go above and beyond to serve others, as his Lord and Savior taught.  We will always carry his memory in our hearts.