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).