Obituary of Robert C. Rice

Robert C. Rice, 90, of Titusville, passed away Saturday morning January 17, 2015 in Ocala, Florida. Mr. Rice was born on June 26, 1924 at Chapmanville, PA, a son of the late Meryl and Florence Whitman Rice. He was married to Marian Barr on July 17, 1948 at the First Presbyterian Church in Oil City. She preceded him in death on Jan. 7, 1998. Mr. Rice attended the Sunville School and was a graduate of Colestock High School, class of 1941. He had also attended Jamestown Business College. He had been employed as a control clerk and assistant personnel manager at US Steel Oilwell Division in Oil City from 1948 to 1961. He worked as a Metropolitan Insurance agent from 1961 to 1962. He then went to work for the former Struthers Wells Corp. as employment manager until 1963. He was last employed at the PA Department of Labor Employment Office in Oil City from 1963 as supervisor and manager until his retirement in 1987. Mr. Rice was known for raising and training beagles which he did for 25 years. He later kept and showed quarter horses. He was an avid bowler and golfer. He enjoyed playing poker, hunting, and traveling. He and his wife had wintered in the Ocala, FL area for over 25 years. He was a member of the Oil City Lodge No. 363 F. & A.M. and a former member of the B.P.O. Elks and Moose Lodge. He is survived by five children, Patricia Rogers and husband Robert of Laurel, MD, Roberta Baker and husband Steve of Franklin, Ronald Rice and wife Betty of Centerville, Susan Gregg and husband George of Columbia, PA, and James Rice and wife Deborah of Bradford; grandchildren, Ashleigh, A.J. and Sydney Baker, Chaz and Elizabeth Weldon, Rebecca Gregg, Nathan and Lucas Rice, and Jody Brooks; two great grandchildren, Tyler and Bailey Brooks, with another great grandchild expected in May; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Joanne Rice. Friends may call at the Gordon B. Garrett Funeral Home 303 N. Washington St. Titusville, PA on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 PM and attend the funeral service there on Saturday at 11:00 AM with Pastor Jeff Little of the Franklin First United Methodist Church, officiating. Interment will be in Sunset Hill Memorial Gardens, Cranberry, PA. The family asks that memorials be made to Sylvia’s Hospice House 2895 S.E. 62nd Street Ocala, FL 34480; to Benson Memorial Library 213 N. Franklin St. Titusville, PA 16354; to the Wounded Warrior Project P.O. Box 758517 Topeka, KS 66675; or to K9’s For Warriors 260 S. Roscoe Blvd. Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082.