Martha May Rice

1924 - 2017

Martha May Rice

Port Hueneme, CA

Martha May Rice, 92, passed away peacefully at home as she slept, and went home to be with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on March 29, 2017.

Martha was born on July 31, 1924 to Lewis and Beryl McClellan in Topeka, Kansas. She was the middle sibling of their four other children: Olive, Lois, John and Ernest.

At the start of WWII, Martha moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado to marry her high school sweetheart, Claude Harvey Rice (and future spouse of 67 years), who had enlisted in the Army Air Force as a mechanic on P-38 airplanes. Following the war, they moved back to Topeka, Kansas and had two daughters, Susan and Judith. Martha worked almost ten years tracking railroad cars for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad.

In 1959, the family moved to Port Hueneme, California where they have since resided. Martha worked as an Avon manager for 21 years until her retirement. She was also a faithful member of the Nazarene Church for many years.

Martha is survived by her daughter, Susan Rice; daughter, Judith (Endo) and son-in-law Gil; granddaughter, Melissa and her spouse Anthony Centanni; and great grandson, Elisha. She is also survived by her brothers John McClellan and Ernest McClellan and their families.

Visitation for Martha will be held on Thursday, April 20, from 4:00 - 8:00 pm, at Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, in Ventura. Funeral services will take place on Friday, April 21, 10:00 am, at the First Church of the Nazarene at 365 S. Seaward Avenue, in Ventura.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to TedMayrFuneralHome.com.