Harley Rice

Harley Rice VALDESE Mr. Harley Dean Rice, 78, of Valdese, passed away Sunday, June 10, 2012, at Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, following a period of declining health. Dean was born Aug. 22, 1933 in Buncombe County to the late Furman and Bertie Lee Roberts Rice. He was a member of Mount Home Baptist Church, where he was active in his Sunday school class, The Friendship class. Mr. Rice was a United States Army Veteran, who served in the Korean Conflict. He was a retired office sales and service representative for Baker Office Supply Company, Phenix City, Ala. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Clara Ruppert. Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Barbara Jean Watson Rice, of the home; son, Kenneth Dean Rice and wife, Patty, of Burke, Va.; two sisters, Wilma Hopper, of Youngsville, and Caroline Sharpe, of Weaverville. Also surviving are two grandchildren, Whitney Rice, of Los Angeles, Calif., and Alex Rice, of Burke, Va., and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, June 13, at 11 a.m. at Mount Home Baptist Church with the Rev. Jerry Gamble officiating. Graveside services will follow at 2 p.m. at the Black Mountain Veteran's Cemetery. The family will receive friends Wednesday, from 10 to 11 a.m., at Mount Home Baptist Church. Memorials may be sent to Burke Hospice & Palliative Care, 1721 Enon Rd., Valdese, NC 28690, or to the Rathbun Center, 121 Sherwood Rd., Asheville, NC 28803. An online guestbook and obituary is available at heritage funeralservices.com Heritage Funeral Service & Crematory of Valdese is serving the Rice family.