Benjamin Rice Aston

BENJAMIN RICE ASTON left this life as he lived it, full of strength and surrounded by family. Rice, as he preferred to be called, was born and raised in Houston, Texas as a thirteenth generation American and fifth generation Texan. He was a graduate of St. John's School, Rice University and the University of Texas law school. In addition to his active oil and gas law practice, Rice Aston was a patriot, orator and historian. Curious and proud of his heritage, he became a serious student of genealogy, American and World History. He became a prolific writer of historical books and articles and an orator on many important historical topics. He is the proud great grandnephew of William Marsh Rice, the founder of Rice University. He also discovered that he was the descendant of several American settlers who first arrived on American shores at Salem, Massachusetts in 1620 and at Jamestown, Virginia in 1640. Ancestors included the maternal great-grandfather and grandfather of George Washington, five members of the VA House of Burgess, one member of Massachusetts and South Carolina First Provincial Congress, Second Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony and a founder of Harvard University. Further back to the Old World, he discovered ancestors who ruled England and were signatories of the Magna Carter. Rice Aston was also deeply committed to his community and devoted countless hours to philanthropic activities. He was a member founder and member of the St. John's School Alumni Association, Director of the River Oaks Rotary Club, Director of the Rice Historical Society and editor of its periodical The Cornerstone, member of the Houston Philosophical Association and the James A. Baker III, Institute for Political Policy, member of Saint Martin's Episcopal Church. He was a member of several Patriotic/Lineage societies where he was often an officer and leader. He culminated his patriotic career by serving as the President General of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. He was honored with the highest award the National Society gives, the Gold Good Citizenship. On his journey to this high office, he also devoted countless hours and support as a member to the Paul Carrington Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, where he served as Editor and President and received the 60th Annual George Washington Distinguished Service Award, the highest award that the chapter can give. He was also very active in the Texas Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Sons of the Republic of Texas, the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Texas, San Jacinto Descendants, Jamestown Society and the Magna Carter Barons. He was the founder of the annual award to the outstanding enlisted man aboard the Aegis cruiser, the USS San Jacinto. Rice is succeeded by the love of his life, his wife, Ursula Goedecke Aston; his children, Sonya Aston, Rick Aston and his wife Lara and their children Andrew and Caleb, Alan Aston and his wife Fiona and their children Miles, Rice and Phoebe; his cousin George Rice Flint and his wife Cindy and their children George and Hannah; his cousin Louann Briscoe and her husband Frank and her children Christie, Calder and Kaylee; sister-in-law Waltraut Duckworth and husband Ed; brother-in-law Curtis H. Goedecke and his wife Tina; Otto Ernst Goedecke and his wife Barbara, and many wonderful cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and co-patriots. Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o'clock in the afternoon until seven o'clock in the evening on Friday, the 23rd of February, in the Gold Room of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston. A memorial service will be conducted at St. Martin's Episcopal Church at eleven o'clock in the morning on Saturday the 24th of February, with the Rev. John K. Graham and Rev. Robert T. Browne officiating. The family wishes to thank Joyce Hill and Imogene Randall for the support and care they provided to the Aston family. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made in Rice's name to Rice University, P.O. Box 200175, Houston, Texas 77216; or to St. Martin's Church, 717 Sage Road, Houston, Texas 77056.