Quirino Molina

Quirino del Rosario Molina, 86 of Gulfport, MS passed away on July 27, 2024 at the Stone County Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Wiggins, MS. He was born on October 2, 1937, in Pozorrubio, Pangasinan, Philippines to the late Alejandro and Eriberta (del Rosario) Molina. He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Rodrigo (Belen †) Molina.

Quirino was living in the Philippines and joined the United States Navy on August 21, 1959. He met Thelma Manalili in Dinalupihan, Bataan while the USS Mount McKinley was stationed at U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay in 1964. They were married on April 21, 1966. Quirino made a career out of being in the United States Navy and proudly served his country for 20 years. He was a Vietnam Veteran. He was stationed in NTC San Diego, CA and NSCS Athens, GA. During his time in the Navy, he was stationed on the USS York County LST-1175 in Norfolk, VA; USS Mount McKinley AGC-7, Vietnam; Comsubpac Subase Pearl Harbor, HI; USS H.W. Gilmore AS-16 in Charleston, SC. Later, he did a tour with the NMCB-74 Seabees at the Naval Construction Battalion Center at Gulfport, MS. His last duty station was at the Naval Air Station Dallas in TX, where he retired. Upon retirement, Quirino joined the Fleet Reserve. After his retirement, Quirino worked as an offshore chef on offshore drilling rigs in LA and TX for four years and worked for the Biloxi VA Medical Center for 24 years. His part-time job was at the Bayou Bluff Tennis Club as a bartender.

Quirino loved to cook and had a home-based catering business, and his egg rolls, along with his gumbo and Thanksgiving turkey, were some of his best. He had the talent to make centerpiece sculptures out of fruits and vegetables which were often requested for major events and parties. Quirino also loved music, from dancing to playing his harmonica and ukelele. Living on the coast, Quirino also loved being on the water going fishing. He loved taking road trips across the United States with family. Quirino was a devout Catholic and served the church in many capacities since a very young age. Through his service in church, he was provided a scholarship from elementary education until high school by the local parish priest. He continued his stewardship at St. Joseph Catholic Church and the Biloxi VA Medical Center Chapel into his adult life and was dubbed as “the oldest Eucharistic Minister” of his parish community. He was an active member of the Knights of Columbus and the Fil-Am Association MS Gulf Coast. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. Quirino had a personality that could fill a room and he never met a stranger. His legacy lives on in all of us and will be cherished forever.

Quirino is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 58 years, Thelma (Manalili) Molina; children, Melvin Molina, Marites (Alan) Hill; grandchildren, Lindsey (William) Herring, and Alexander Hill (Haley Barker); siblings, Henry (Fe) Molina, Rosita (Ben †) Ciano, and Melanio (Cecilia) Molina. Quirino also leaves behind to cherish his memory, a host of nieces, nephews, friends, and extended family.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 8, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 pm at the Riemann Family Funeral Homes Gulfport (11280 Three Rivers Rd, Gulfport, MS 39503). A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, August 9, 2024, at St. Joseph Catholic Church (12290 Depew Road, Gulfport, MS 39503). Graveside Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. with Military Honors at Biloxi National Cemetery (400 Veterans Ave Biloxi, MS 39531).

Riemann Family Funeral Home, Gulfport is assisting the family.

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