John Charles Rice

RICE, John Charles, of Mechanicsville, VA, beloved husband, father and grandfather, died peacefully on May 2, 2019 at the age of 71, after a 4-year struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease.  John was predeceased by his parents; John Hanley Rice and Catherine Baumann Rice, and his youngest son, Christopher L. Rice.  He leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Lori; children, Jennifer C. Rice and John Erik Rice; stepchildren, Wesley A. Russell (Michelle) and Arwen E. Russell; and 4 granddaughters.  John was an only child and spent his youth in Kentucky and Ohio.  He moved to Mechanicsville during high school and graduated from Lee Davis. After studying for a year at RPI, he enlisted in the Army and served in Vietnam, where he earned a Bronze Star.  Afterwards, he was employed by DuPont DeMours Company, where he worked for 39 years as a pipefitter and master plumber. John had a true zest for life; enjoying hunting, fishing, canoeing, and dancing.  He had a playful nature that he maintained throughout the length of his illness and loved to tease and laugh. A wake and celebration of John’s life will be held on May  11, 2019 from 2 – 4 pm at Calabash Seafood & Club Midway in Mechanicville, Virginia.  The funeral service will be held at Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Amelia  at 3:00 pm, May 14, 2019.  The family wishes to thank the staff of the Shenandoah Unit at Sitter & Barfoot Veterans Care Center for the excellent and compassionate care he received during the past two years.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to to the Sitter & Barfoot Foundation (c/o Sitter & Barfoot Veterans Care Center, Attn Finance, 1601 Broad Rock Blvd., Richmond VA 23224), the Richmond Fisher House and Foundation (richmondfisherhouse.org) or the Rick Sharp Alzheimer’s Foundation (www.ricksharpalz.org).

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John Charles Rice, please visit our floral store.