Gilberto Molina Diaz

Gilberto Molina Diaz, 87, of Columbia, South Carolina passed away February 6, 2017, at Warriors Walk located at WJB Dorn VA Medical Center. He was born on January 8, 1930 in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico to Rufino Diaz and Regina Molina Diaz. Gilberto loved all sports and especially enjoyed playing golf. He served his country in the United States Army for 24 years prior to his retirement as Sergeant First Class. While serving in the army, he was an Airborne Green Beret earning four bronze stars for ground combat in Vietnam, a Silver Star, a Purple Heart for action in Korea, two army commendation medals, two Gallantry Crosses presented by the South Vietnamese Army, two Korean Silver Medals and a combat infantry award. He was a Delta Sky Marshal, a US Marshal and a deputy sheriff for Richland County. Gilberto is survived by his loving wife, Carmen Santos Diaz; children, Theresa, Carmen, Sonia, Gilbert, Jr, Cynthia, Robert, Debora, Frankie, Jamie, Anthony, Lisa and Melissa, grandchildren, Tommy, Phillip, Aprael, Gina, Christy, Grant, Erica, Richard, III, Allison, Gilbert, III, Matthew, Dixon, Ashlan, Sydney, Cruz, Jamie-Grae, Nicholas, Dane, and Saul; great grandchildren, Auzton, Emerson, Rayna and Reagan. He was preceded in death by his son, Albert. The family will receive friends at Thompson Funeral Home at Greenlawn Memorial Park, 845 Leesburg Road, Columbia, SC 29209 on February 9, 2017 from 5:00PM - 8:00PM. Funeral services will be at 3:00PM on February 10, 2017 in the funeral home chapel. Interment will be at Greenlawn Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to the Wounded Warriors Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8517. Family and friends may sign the online guest book at www.thompsonsfuneral.com