William Elbert Pete Rice

RICEDURHAM Mr. William Elbert (Pete) Rice, 85, of Durham, died on Sunday, September 26, 2010. Mr. Rice was born in Garland, Arkansas, the son of the late Robert and Lillie Rice. He was a veteran of the U. S. Marine Corps and met and married Hyacinth Cooley Rice while stationed at Camp Lejeune during World II. She and his eldest son, Donald Claude Rice died 2003. His family moved to Arizona when he was young, he called both Arizona and Arkansas home. He attended Duke University while in the Marine Corps. He taught at Mangum and Bethesda Schools and Southern High School, where he taught for 10 years. He was hired by the Exchange Club to start the Durham Exchange Club Industries in 1966. He was a charter member of the Bethesda Ruritan Club and a member of Page Road Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday School and served as a trustee. He is survived by one son, William (Bill) E. Rice Jr.; a daughter-in-law, Ronda Rice (widow of Don); four grandchildren, Chris Rice and wife, Brittany, Kevin Rice, Don Rice and wife, Tracey and Heather Garner and husband, Ronnie; five great-grandchildren; Dustin and Madison Garner, Ben and Adam Rice, and Aubrey Rice; sister-in-law, Carol Rice and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Page Road Baptist Church, officiated by Rev. Michael Bond. Burial will be in Woodlawn Memorial Park. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Bethesda Ruritan Club.The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hudson Funeral Home.