Frederick E. Rice, Sr.

Frederick E. Rice, Sr., 80, of Rocky Ridge, Ohio, died Sunday, March 13, 2011, at Edgewood Manor Nursing Center, Port Clinton, Ohio. He was born October 20, 1930, in Portsmouth, Ohio, to Edward B. and Maxine Conley Rice. On June 12, 1957, in Port Clinton he married Alma M. Hineline and she survives. Fred served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War from 1952-1954. Fred worked as a shift foreman for U.S. Gypsum in Genoa from 1950-1989. He also previously worked at an orchard in southern Ohio and in 1969 he started Fred E. Rice & Sons, an excavating and septic system installation business. Fred served as Mayor of Rocky Ridge from 1976-1986, as the street commissioner before and after his terms as mayor, and also as a volunteer fireman as well. He was a former member of St. Paul United Church of Christ, Oak Harbor, and a former member of the Oak Harbor Masonic Lodge F&AM #495. Fred enjoyed woodworking and even built his own home. One of Freds favorite trips was when he and Alma traveled to South Korea in 1987 for their 30th anniversary, which was a trip for former veterans of the Korean War who also served as mayor. In addition to his loving wife of 53 years, Alma, Fred is survived by his daughter, Maxine Dan Wagner of Fremont, son, Fred Rohnda Rice, Jr. of Martin; eight grandchildren, Tiffany, Heather, Jacob, Shelby, Fred III, Justin, Chelsea, and Charlee; four great grandchildren; sister, Pauline Hodge of West Union, brother, Joe Rice of Oak Harbor, sister, Kate Parman of Oak Harbor, sister-in-law, Faye Rice of Oak Harbor and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, sons, Charlie and Myron Rice, brother, Harold Rice, sister, Edival Evans, and his faithful companion dog, Cole. Visitation will be 2-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, 2011, in the Robinson-Walker Funeral Home & Crematory, Oak Harbor. The funeral service will be conducted 11:00 a.m. Thursday, March 17, 2011, in the funeral home. Interment will be in Limestone Cemetery, Graytown, with the Oak Harbor American Legion Post #114 and V.F.W. Post #8732 conducting military graveside services. Memorial contributions may be given to the Alzheimers Association, Stein Hospice, or Rocky Ridge Volunteer Fire Department. The family would like to specially thank his late brother, Harold and his wife Faye for their thoughts and concern for Fred during his illness. They would also like to thank Norbert Goetz for his every Thursday night visits with Fred and the caring staff at Edgewood Manor Nursing Home for their support and care.