William Rice

Canton - William Howard Rice, age 84, of the Beaverdam Community, died Saturday, August 20, 2005 at Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville. He was a native and lifelong resident of Haywood County. He was the son of the late Crawford and Beulah Smathers Rice. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Roger David Rice, and a sister, Mary Gray Rice. Mr. Rice was a United States Army Veteran serving in The Pacific Theater. He retired in 1988 with 38 years of service from Champion International. He attended Beaverdam United Methodist Church. He is survived by two brothers, Jack Rice , and his wife, Aileen of Canton, Josh Rice, and his wife, Alline, of Clyde; three nieces, Suzanne Oakley, and her husband, John of Tampa FL., Robyn Gillis, and her husband, Paul of Taylors, S.C., and Kim Adams of La Grange, GA.; three great-nieces, Logan Adams of Auburn, AL., Emery Adams of La Grange, GA., and Carlyle Gillis of Taylors, S.C.; three great-nephews, John Paul Gillis of Columbia S.C., Jack Oakley and Gray Oakley, both of Tampa FL.; step-nephews, Robbie and Dale Glance; step-nieces, Linda Duckett and Debbie Messer. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 23, 2005 at the Canton Chapel of Wells Funeral Homes with the Reverend Brian Cornell officiating. Burial will follow at Beaverdam Community Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Monday, August 22, 2005 at the funeral home. Memorials can be made to Beaverdam Community Cemetery Fund- 28 Garrett Drive, Canton, N.C. 28716 or Beaverdam United Methodist Church- 8 Redland Circle, Canton, N.C. 28716.

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