Obituary for William Darfow Rice Sr.
Mr. William Darfow Rice Sr., 89, of 731 Greenbrier Ave, passed away peacefully Wednesday December 11, 2019 at his residence.
Darfow was born May 11, 1930 in Covington, the son of William Lee and Nellie Rea Rice. He was a lifelong resident of the city.
Darfow was honored to serve his country in the United States Army, serving in Korea during the Korean War, attaining the rank of Master Sergeant. He was a lifetime member of the Curtis A. Smith Post 1033 Veterans of Foreign Wars Chapter, holding several offices and helping to organize graveside rites services for his fellow veterans for many years.
Darfow was a lifelong loyal and active member of Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church. He will be greatly missed by his church community.
Darfow worked his career at Westvaco, primarily in the Recovery Department. He retired in 1992, as a Recovery Shift Foreman, with 39 years of service.
Darfow’s life was long and extremely well lived. Renowned Little League coach, respected umpire, avid outdoorsman, bowler, golfer and Bingo player, Darfow’s friends and fans number far too many to be counted.
Darfow’s greatest joy was derived from his family. His love, dedication and support for them was complete and unwavering. He reveled in time spent with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He will forever stand as a shining example of what a Patriarch should be.
In addition to his parents, Darfow was preceded in death by an infant brother, Russell Lee Rice, two brothers, Oliver Ray Rice and H.W. “Joe” Rice, and in 2008 by his beloved wife of 57 years, Ruby Brisendine Rice, the other half of the best two parents ever.
Another unfillable void will now forever burden the hearts of their three sons, William Darfow (Billy) Rice Jr. and wife Linda of Wytheville, Jerry Allen Rice and wife Martha and Stephen Lee Rice and wife Cathy, all of Covington.
Mourning the loss of their Granddad are Tricia Rice Wheatley and husband Todd of Christiansburg, Kimberly Rice of Vinton, Jerry Allen Rice Jr. and wife Angela, Hayden Darfow Rice and Macie Lynn Rice, all of Covington. G-Darf will be greatly missed by his great grandchildren, Jackson Darfow Lester, William Carlyle Wheatley, Allyson Elaine (Laney) and Tyler Allen Rice. Darfow is also survived by two sisters-in law, Mrs. Lula Rice of Sam Black, West Virginia and Mrs. Anne Brisendine of Detroit, Michigan and a number of nieces, nephews and extended family.
The family will receive friends at Loving Funeral Home on Saturday, December 14, 2019 from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. A funeral will be held at Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church Sunday, December 15 , 2019 at 3:00pm with Rev. Yun Goo Kang officiating. Interment will follow at Mount Pleasant cemetery. Graveside rites will be conducted by the Curtis A. Smith Post 1033 Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Active pallbearers will be Jerry Rice Jr., Hayden Rice, Michael Richmond, Lorne Brisendine, Todd Wheatley, Bill Woodson, Gary Whitehead and Larry O’Rourke.
Honorary Pallbearers are the members of the Curtis A. Smith Post 1033 Veterans of Foreign Wars and Darfow’s Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church or the Presbyterian Home of the Highlands P.O. Box 545, Wytheville, VA 24382.
Arrangements are being handled by Loving Funeral Home, 350 N. Maple Ave, Covington, VA; www.lovingfuneralhome1913 .
Darfow was born May 11, 1930 in Covington, the son of William Lee and Nellie Rea Rice. He was a lifelong resident of the city.
Darfow was honored to serve his country in the United States Army, serving in Korea during the Korean War, attaining the rank of Master Sergeant. He was a lifetime member of the Curtis A. Smith Post 1033 Veterans of Foreign Wars Chapter, holding several offices and helping to organize graveside rites services for his fellow veterans for many years.
Darfow was a lifelong loyal and active member of Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church. He will be greatly missed by his church community.
Darfow worked his career at Westvaco, primarily in the Recovery Department. He retired in 1992, as a Recovery Shift Foreman, with 39 years of service.
Darfow’s life was long and extremely well lived. Renowned Little League coach, respected umpire, avid outdoorsman, bowler, golfer and Bingo player, Darfow’s friends and fans number far too many to be counted.
Darfow’s greatest joy was derived from his family. His love, dedication and support for them was complete and unwavering. He reveled in time spent with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He will forever stand as a shining example of what a Patriarch should be.
In addition to his parents, Darfow was preceded in death by an infant brother, Russell Lee Rice, two brothers, Oliver Ray Rice and H.W. “Joe” Rice, and in 2008 by his beloved wife of 57 years, Ruby Brisendine Rice, the other half of the best two parents ever.
Another unfillable void will now forever burden the hearts of their three sons, William Darfow (Billy) Rice Jr. and wife Linda of Wytheville, Jerry Allen Rice and wife Martha and Stephen Lee Rice and wife Cathy, all of Covington.
Mourning the loss of their Granddad are Tricia Rice Wheatley and husband Todd of Christiansburg, Kimberly Rice of Vinton, Jerry Allen Rice Jr. and wife Angela, Hayden Darfow Rice and Macie Lynn Rice, all of Covington. G-Darf will be greatly missed by his great grandchildren, Jackson Darfow Lester, William Carlyle Wheatley, Allyson Elaine (Laney) and Tyler Allen Rice. Darfow is also survived by two sisters-in law, Mrs. Lula Rice of Sam Black, West Virginia and Mrs. Anne Brisendine of Detroit, Michigan and a number of nieces, nephews and extended family.
The family will receive friends at Loving Funeral Home on Saturday, December 14, 2019 from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. A funeral will be held at Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church Sunday, December 15 , 2019 at 3:00pm with Rev. Yun Goo Kang officiating. Interment will follow at Mount Pleasant cemetery. Graveside rites will be conducted by the Curtis A. Smith Post 1033 Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Active pallbearers will be Jerry Rice Jr., Hayden Rice, Michael Richmond, Lorne Brisendine, Todd Wheatley, Bill Woodson, Gary Whitehead and Larry O’Rourke.
Honorary Pallbearers are the members of the Curtis A. Smith Post 1033 Veterans of Foreign Wars and Darfow’s Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church or the Presbyterian Home of the Highlands P.O. Box 545, Wytheville, VA 24382.
Arrangements are being handled by Loving Funeral Home, 350 N. Maple Ave, Covington, VA; www.lovingfuneralhome1913 .